Today marks the 28th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre when a gunman shot and killed 14 women and injured another 14 people at Ecole Polytechnique on December 6th, 1989.
Since 1989, December 6th has become known as “National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.”
Michelle Schryer is the Executive Director of the Chatham-Kent Sexual Assault Crisis Centre and says her organization will be showing No Place to Hide: The Rehtaeh Parsons story.
“I think a lot of people will remember Rehtaeh Parsons, she’s the young woman who was sexually assaulted while she was under the influence of alcohol, and the perpetrators filmed the sexual assault and then a photo was distributed online,” Schryer says. “Rehteah was tormented for almost two years, she was cyber-bullied and bullied and harassed until the end of her life, which she decided to take after nearly two years.”
Schryer says the documentary touches on the far-reaching effects of cyber-bulling, the extent of rape culture and victim blaming, and the devastation of sexual assault.
Viewer discretion is advised, but Schryer is encouraging parents and older students, especially those heading off to college or university next year, to attend.
Tonight’s event gets underway at 6:30 at the WISH Centre in Chatham.