HARRISBURG, Pa. — On Monday, dozens gathered at the State Capitol in Harrisburg to kick off National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
It's an annual observance that brings communities together and raises awareness about victims' rights, protections, and services.
At a rally organized by the Crime Victims Alliance of Pennsylvania, several crime survivors shared their stories.
This included Gigi Kilroe, who was sexually assaulted multiple times throughout her childhood and early adult years.
“I understand why young women don’t come forward," said Kilroe, when speaking about the night she was raped in college. "I didn’t because I was so ashamed I brought that on myself.”
Michelle Quier also spoke. She has become the voice for her 94-year-old neighbor-turned-mother figure, who passed away just a few months after she was sexually assaulted by a male nurse working at the Lehigh Valley independent living facility where she was a resident.
“I watched her deteriorate mentally and physically," said Quier. "Even though she had dementia, I believe she knew in the moment what he had done to her.”
Eileen Miller of Monroe County also shared the story of her son, Paul, who was killed back in 2010 when he was hit by a distracted driver.
She is now working with state Senator Rosemary Brown (R-40) to pass Senate Bill 37, which would make it illegal for Pennsylvania drivers to have a cell phone in hand while driving.
Miller recalled the day her son was killed and going to see his body in the morgue following the crash.
“I whispered in his ear, that when I found out how he died…and I later found out it was distracted driving, that I would fight for change," she said.
All three women have been impacted by different crimes, but are all still victims.
“Every day do you not think I don’t think about my son? Everyone who spoke up here, do you not think we don’t think about our trauma?” said Miller.
The theme of this year's National Crime Victims' Rights Week is "How would you help?" Organizers say it challenges all members of the community to be prepared to help victims of crime by learning about available resources and being able to offer support to victims.
They say it's a "call to action" for communities to create safe environments for crime victims to share what happened to them.
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