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African American 490 Challenge for Enough Said seeks to raise over $650,000 to fund Rape Kit testing

DETROIT, MI -Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy along with dozens of African American women representing a host of organizations announced Tuesday plans to kick off an ambitious fundraising effort for Enough SAID, the rape kit testing and investigations effort being led by Worthy and the Michigan Women’s Foundation. The organizations, ranging from Greek letter organizations to business leaders to grassroots, collectively represent more than 10,000 individuals.

The campaign’s goal is to raise $657,090 over 18 months; the figure represents the cost to test the remaining approximately 1,340 rape kits at $490 each.

“Eighty-one percent of the victims are African Americans,’’ said Kim Trent, who helped to organize the coalition that’s leading the effort. “We are black women who stand ready to make sure this never happens again, and that the women it happened to get justice.”

 Other key figures that were mentioned Tuesday: Twenty-one percent of victims were under age 16 at the time the rape was committed
 Thirty-nine states have been impacted by these serial rapists, who on average rape between 7-11 times.
To raise the money, the coalition is tapping others to host house parties, donate money and raise awareness surrounding the issue. Several vendors---Elena Farmer, Sandra James, Change Media Group and In My Eye photography, have donated in-kind services.

Tuesday’s announcement brought together more than 60 women of all walks of life ranging from religious leaders to elected officials to moms. The press conference took place at the Detroit Association of Women’s Clubs, 5461 Brush Street. The DAWC, organized in 1922 with eight clubs, is one of the oldest African American organizations in the country.

“There’s nothing that African American women can’t do when we put our minds to it,” said Maureen Stapleton, a former state representative and business owner. “Today, we will begin to show the power of our efforts of collective work and responsibility.”

The effort is designed to close the gap for the final rape kits that need testing. Over five years ago, 11,341 unopened, untested rape kits were found in a Detroit Police Department storage unit.

Enough SAID (Enough Sexual Assault in Detroit) was formed to raise money for the testing of the kits, as well as the investigation and prosecution of these forgotten crimes.

For more information about the AA 490 Challenge or to donate, go to https://www.crowdrise.com/AfricanAmerican490Challenge.
 

 

 

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