Speakers:
- Nicole Fox, Division of Criminal Justice, California State University, Sacramento - ResearchGate

- Alexa Sardina, Division of Criminal Justice, California State University, Sacramento - ResearchGate, ORCID

Abstract: »Memorials can facilitate the centering of marginalized narratives of violence and be powerful mechanisms for social change. This article focuses on one such space: The Survivors Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Survivors Memorial opened in October 2020 and is the first to honor survivors of sexual violence. Despite the progress of the anti-rape and feminist movements, many survivors are left without a sense of justice or recognition. Drawing on 21 in-depth, interviews with individuals involved in all aspects of the memorial project, this article documents how one community mobilized to create a space for survivors. In focusing on how participants narrate the significance and meaning of the Survivors Memorial, this article uncovers how social, political, and local circumstances coalesced to make the Memorial possible. These factors include local leadership, the prevalence of sexual violence, the unique structure of the Minneapolis park board structure and the rise of the #MeToo movement. Interviews illuminate that participants worked to intentionally construct the Memorial as an accessible and visible space that centers on providing all sexual violence survivors with public acknowledgement of their experiences, while simultaneously engaging community members in dialogues about sexual violence, ultimately, laying the foundation for sexual violence prevention efforts.« (Source: Online Program)

Publication: Sardina, Alexa, et al. »America's First Memorial Honoring Survivors of Sexual Violence.« Journal of Interpersonal Violence 37 (January 10, 2022). - Bibliographic Entry: Info

Wikipedia: History of the Americas: History of the United States | Memorial: Monuments and memorials in the United States | Sex and the law: Sexual assault