Emily Larkins, executive director of the Family Crisis Intervention Center, spoke about all of the initiatives and advocacy efforts of the FCIC. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

PARKERSBURG — The community gathered at Bicentennial Park on Wednesday to raise awareness for sexual assault victims and recognize survivors.

Hosted by the Family Crisis Intervention Center, the event recognized Denim Day which is considered to be the longest-running sexual violence prevention and education campaign worldwide.

The campaign came as a result of protests against the Italian Parliament in the early 1990s when they overturned the conviction of a perpetrator who had raped an 18-year-old girl. The case was appealed when the perpetrator claimed the victim was wearing tight jeans and she had to help remove them so it was ruled as consensual.

Protests erupted across the country and quickly reached the global media. Soon after, Peace of Violence, an organization in California decided the public should wear denim as a way to protest myths about rape.

“So this is the third year we’ve held the event here in downtown Parkersburg,” said Teresa Smith with FCIC.

Members of the Wood County Sexual Assault Response Team gathered at Bicentennial Park to spread awareness for the Denim Day campaign and advocate for sexual assault victims. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The sun shone brightly as the crowd gathered to hear speakers from the Wood County Sexual Assault Response Team talk about spreading awareness and what they’re doing to help.

The speakers at the event included FCIC Board President Laurea Ellis, FCIC Executive Director Emily Larkins, North Star Child Advocacy Center Executive Director Greg Collins and Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure.

“Our numbers reflect our program’s dedication with our center serving a total of 977 unduplicated clients, answering 2,296 hotline calls and our certified advocates providing over 11,000 hours of direct service and support,” said Larkins.

In honor of Denim Day, Larkins described all of the services provided by the FCIC and what that could mean for a family in need. She ended her speech by stating “we are not just a place, we are a life.”

Collins read a few anonymous statements that were direct quotes from children during forensic interviews. The statements were said by children who had experienced sexual violence and assault in their home life.

Sexual assault survivor and mother of two Miranda Decker spoke about her experience and upbringing at the event on Wednesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

“It’s always been like a stabbing, like my body didn’t want to accept it,” said one child. “It’s not like I don’t want to talk about it, I just don’t want to leave my family.”

North Star is a safe space for children to go and share their experiences to help law enforcement and Child Protective Services.

Lefebure followed up with a few statements about Denim Day and the Wood County SART.

“We’re not here to celebrate the dedication of one organization, we celebrate a coalition of compassion, professionalism and unwithered commitment,” said Lefebure.

He gave a shout out to involved organizations such as the FCIC, local law enforcement agencies, WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, North Star, the Department of Human Services, Westbrook Health Services, the Arc and WVU.

Bentlee and Weston Dickle helped out at Denim Day by passing out denim pockets that contained more information for guests about the Family Crisis Intervention Center. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

“This team embodies what a collaboration effort looks like,” said Lefebure. “We know in our experience that trauma isn’t linear, healing is not simple, and justice is not always easy.”

Miranda Decker stepped up to the podium to share her testimony that among many things she is proud to be, she is a survivor. Decker spoke about her childhood and growing up with an abusive father who was charged in 2019 with 22 counts of rape and nine victims.

She described years of sexual assault and physical violence inflicted upon her by her father and even though justice found him, she is still dealing with the events to this day.

“The shame was never mine to carry and I refuse to carry it any longer,” said Decker. “The power of his crime died when my silence ceased, as soon as I spoke, I became a survivor instead of a victim.”

The Arc of the MOV was awarded by the FCIC for its efforts. Arc representatives Doug Hess, Alexis Ullmann and Michelle Curtis were in attendance to receive the awards.

The community gathered at Bicentennial Park on Wednesday afternoon to recognize Denim Day and victims of sexual violence. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com

Members of the Arc of the MOV along with a few of its representatives, Michelle Curtis, Doug Hess, and Alexis Ullmann won awards from the Family Crisis Intervention Center on Wednesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Guests who attended the Denim Day event on Wednesday could sit in the sun and enjoy coffee from Sips and lunch from Hangry’s food truck. (Photo by Amber Phipps)