10 Year Liberation Anniversary

Yesterday marked a day in my history that changed my life forever. September 17, 2003, was the day that I came forward to my oldest brother of the sexual violence I had been experiencing for 4 years. It has been 10 years now since I told, a lot has happened in that time, much of it to be proud of and much of it to mourn.

Myself, my mom, and my two brothers have come a long way since then. I cannot speak for their individual experiences but I can most certainly speak for my own. But I will never be able to thank them for all of their support, love, and strength that they have shared with me all of these years, and continue to share.

I attempted to write a post yesterday but my emotions were overwhelming. I felt like I had accomplished overcoming the hardest challenge I have ever been faced with, and then I felt sad that it was a challenge I had no choice but to overcome. And then I remembered that the hardest part for me was over, but unfortunately that wasn't the case for thousands upon thousands of girls and boys, women and men around the world. I see it as my duty to be a voice for everyone who has experienced the injustice of sexual violence, and till the day I die I will fight so that there will never be a person who has to overcome this challenge ever again.

I wonder if it was a coincidence that the day I happened to tell 10 years ago falls on Sexual Violence Awareness Week. It's a little uncanny and gives me goosebumps when I think about it. A few days after my 10 year liberation anniversary, I will be walking the streets of St. John's with women and men to take back the nights that my innocence was taken away from me, over and over again (event information here). If you've been a victim of sexual violence, I encourage you to come out and walk with us. If you've never been a victim of sexual violence, I still encourage you to come out and walk with us, if not only to take back the night for every victim that has or still is experiencing sexual violence.

I invite you to join in the events this week in St. John's listed here (and if you're not in St. John's I hope there are events taking place near you). And to end my post, I want every man and woman to watch this video and I hope you share it on your Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Peace, love, and happiness,

Kora Liegh