Massage Envy latest to be held responsible
For immediate release Wednesday, November 29
Statement by Kate Bochte, SNAP Leader, The Survivors Network, (SNAPNetwork.org) [email protected] 630-768-1860
We commend Tara Woodley for bravely sharing with the public her experience at a Washington, D.C. location of Massage Envy.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/28/us/massage-envy-allegations/index.html
After filing a lawsuit against Massage Envy in September as Jane Doe, Ms. Woodley was inspired recently by other women who have since come forward, out of the shadows, with similar accounts involving certain politicians or celebrities. It is our hope other victims, witnesses, and whistleblowers will be inspired to do the same.
For too long, many survivors of sexual abuse/assault have felt the need to conceal their identities to protect themselves from further harm. The tide seems to be turning, however, to the point where survivors are showing they have nothing to hide or be ashamed of and that the responsibility for such crimes belongs to the perpetrators and their enablers, not the innocent. This trend is good for the cause of justice, healing, and prevention of these types of crimes. Massage Envy should be held responsible for the actions of their employees and the cover up of allegations.
We’d also like to commend the police in this case who, according to Ms. Woodley, handled her complaint professionally. When accusations of sexual abuse/assault are responded to appropriately, by all involved, there is a ripple effect which can empower others in the pursuit of justice and a safer society. That is bad news for the guilty but hope for the common good.
SNAP, the Survivors Network, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for victims of sexual abuse in institutional settings. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 25,000 members. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
CONTACT
Barbara Dorris of St. Louis, SNAP Executive Director (314-503-0003, [email protected]), Joelle Casteix 949-322-7434, [email protected] or Melanie Sakoda 925-708-6175 [email protected]
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director