GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Goodfellow will be kicking off this year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month with a pledge signing in front of the Norma brown building and ribbon distribution at the gates on April 3.
Informational tables will be available with fact sheets, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program brochures, local resources, and promotional items at various locations and times across the base throughout the month of April.
April 4- Norma Brown Building 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
April 10- Base Exchange 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
April 15- Western Winds Dining Facility 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
April 24- Cressman Dining Facility 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
There will also be a Netflix and No Chill Movie night held at the Base Theater on April 17 at 6 p.m.
Goodfellow’s SAPR team encourages everyone to wear jeans to work or school, at the unit commander’s discretion, to honor Denim Day, April 26. Denim Day was started due to a case where the Italian Supreme Court overturned all conviction of the accused due to the fact that the victim wore tight jeans. This case has since been overturned and there is no longer a “denim” defense to the charge of rape. Due to the original decision, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become an international symbol of protest against sexual assault.
The origins of SAAPM began in 1970 when there was significant growth in prevention and awareness of sexual violence across the country. The Bay Area Women Against Rape opened in 1971 becoming the nation’s first rape crisis center offering immediate victim services.
In the early ‘80s, activists used the month of October to raise awareness against violence towards women. Due to an informal polling by the National Coalition Against Sexual Assault, a week in April became the national Sexual Assault Awareness Week. Advocates began coordinating activities and events throughout the month of April in the ‘90s, resulting in 2001 being the first year that SAAM was nationally observed for the whole month of April.