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]