A Black Rose

Hello everyone.

This is just a quick update. Those of you who have indicated that you are interested in joining us for May 30th in Washington, DC should be receiving an email with more information very soon. It's not too late to let us know you'd like to come! Please keep in mind that you are responsible for your own transportation and for now, your own lodging.

It looks like we will be having a good old fashioned rally. What do I mean by that? Well, keep in mind that this campaign is about making sure EVERYONE knows that there are people: real, tangible people with lives and families and futures that are survivors of MST or supporters thereof.

Above all, I want people to know something important. We have posted before talking about contributions to our cause. We realize this is a rather new campaign with little recognition and funding. But let me be completely clear: everyone who requested a rose will have one brought to DC, even if we have to walk there ourselves. This isn't about money. It isn't about big flashy banners and high end loudspeakers. It's about making it clear to as many people as possible that covering up sexual assault in the military, belittling and ridiculing survivors, and ignoring pleas for help will NOT be tolerated. If my mother and myself have to walk up to every person we meet and personally tell them what's happening in the military, we will. If we have to paint signs and stand in DC alone, we will.

But we know that we won't be alone. We know that you will stand by us, whether you are in DC or watching from home. Thank you all for being brave and helping us achieve more than we thought was possible.

Never stop fighting.

-Esteban Rodriguez

OHSU, PSU researchers say young women who recently served at a high riskBy Peter Korn

The Portland Tribune, Dec 1, 2010,
In recent years, researchers have detailed surprisingly high suicide rates among U.S. military veterans. With more veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the news that veterans during the course of their lives are twice as likely to commit suicide than non-veterans has led to a number of military mental health initiatives.
In a new study released this week in the journal Psychiatric Services, three Portland researchers claim to have discovered a “hidden epidemic” within those numbers among women veterans.
Click here for the full article

Are you passionate about protecting our troops? Every day, news agencies claim to be behind our soldiers, yet they refuse to cover the story of military sexual abuse. This week, we ask that you walk into the offices of your local news agencies and demand to know why military rape isn't a hot topic on their news lists.

Why in person? It's far to simple to delete an email or throw away a letter. Calling or better yet going in person shows your dedication and allows you to press the issue rather than allow a piece of paper to talk for you. If we all stand up and show that this is important to us, media outlets will be forced to explore the issue of military rape. It's time to stop covering jet-skiing squirrels or celebrity gossip when our soldiers are being tortured every day.

We'll be paying our local news agencies a visit. Will you?