Episodes
Friday Apr 30, 2021
Episode 50 - My Survivor Story
Friday Apr 30, 2021
Friday Apr 30, 2021
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and today, to close out this month, I felt I would bring you an incredibly important story to me. You all have empowered me to finally speak my truth and share my survivor story. This is why I advocate.
A special thank you to all who participated in sharing "Why I Advocate" for this episode.
And an extra special thank you to Rosebud Ireland for lending us her beautiful song Sister Survivors for this episode.
RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673
bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Episode 49 - The Murder of Kristin Smart
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
Thursday Apr 29, 2021
In May of 1996, California Polytechnic freshman Kristin Smart attended a birthday party for a friend on campus. She was walked back to her dorm by Paul Flores, never to be seen or heard from again. Flores had been suspected in her murder since the beginning, but hardly any evidence could prove Kristin was even dead. New developments have led to Flores' arrest and new information about his past. Find out more in this episode.
RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673
bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy
References:
https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article100287482.html
https://www.recordnet.com/article/20070524/A_NEWS/705240316
https://calcoastnews.com/2020/02/paul-flores-detained-in-disappearance-of-kristin-smart/
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/14/us/kristin-smart-case-district-attorney/index.html
https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article250978094.html
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-27/kristin-smart-paul-flores-la-sexual-assault-claims
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Episode 48 - The 'Jeans Alibi'
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Wednesday Apr 28, 2021
Today, April 28, 2021 marks another Denim Day. Hear all about the case that sparked this movement (and the absurd 'Jeans Alibi') and why it is so important to wear your denim today!
https://www.rcne.com/contact/countries/italy/ | +39 055 602311 (violence against women); + 39 055 601375 (violence against children) | http://www.artemisiacentroantiviolenza.it/
RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673
bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy
References:
https://www.denimdayinfo.org/history
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/italians-protest-rape-ruling/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/277881.stm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denim_Day
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Episode 47 - The Death of Brandon Dye
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Brandon Lee Dye was born November 4, 1988. From what I could find on his Facebook page it seemed he had struggled with addiction for a long while and he acknowledged that he had a lot of grief and trauma that he needed to work through and alluded to his drug use being caused by this trauma. On the night of July 15, 2019, in Virginia, Brandon was at home in with his girlfriend, Megan Anne Walthall. Find out what happened that night and why we discuss this case during SAAM.
RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673
bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy
References:
https://nypost.com/2021/03/04/woman-sentenced-for-sexually-abusing-boyfriend-as-he-died/
https://www.foundandsons.com/obituaries/Brandon-Dye/#!/Obituary
https://potomaclocal.com/2012/10/25/girl-told-father-about-slaying-mother/
https://www.foundandsons.com/obituaries/Brenda-Dye/#!/Obituary
Friday Apr 23, 2021
Minisode 25 - Manhattan DA to Not Prosecute Sex Work
Friday Apr 23, 2021
Friday Apr 23, 2021
The Manhattan, NY, DA has decided his office will no longer prosecute sex workers following suit behind a few other jurisdictions in the US. Find out what this means for sex workers and johns.
bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy
Reference:
https://www.npr.org/2021/04/21/989588072/a-relic-and-burden-manhattan-district-attorney-to-stop-prosecuting-prostitution
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Episode 46 - Convicted Rapist Reynhard Sinaga
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
In June 2017, Manchester graduate student Reynhard Sinaga was arrested on 136 counts of rape of young men around Manchester. He was ultimately convicted of all counts for drugging and raping these young men. Hear about this resilience of these survivors and how Sinaga's case helped so many more young men come forward about their sexual assaults.
bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy
rainn.org | 1-800-656-4673
supportline.org.uk | 01708 765200
References:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50688975
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50987823
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jan/25/friends-flatmates-reynhard-sinaga
Friday Apr 16, 2021
Episode 45 - The Murder of Sarah Everard
Friday Apr 16, 2021
Friday Apr 16, 2021
On March 3, 2021, Sarah Everard was kidnapped while walking home from a friend's house. One week later her remains were discovered and a police officer was arrested for her murder. Hear why street harassment is such an important topic to discuss during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
International Anti-Street Harassment Week - April 11-17, 2021
Find out more: https://www.ihollaback.org/about/
bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy
References:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/wayne-couzens-know-officer-arrested-23694346
https://stopstreetharassment.org/resources/statistics/
Monday Apr 12, 2021
Episode 44 - The Rape of Sam Thompson
Monday Apr 12, 2021
Monday Apr 12, 2021
About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. In the UK, 4% of men have experienced some type of sexual assault since the age of 16. Sam Thompson became a statistic, but found a way out of the trauma. Hear how his story helped improve law enforcements response to sexual assaults perpetrated against men.
bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy
rainn.org | 1-800-656-4673
supportline.org.uk | 01708 765200
References:
https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-informed/about-sexual-violence/statistics-sexual-violence/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/f78ad097-77d7-4ec0-8014-54ace0fc4b11
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
Episode 43 - The Center City Rapist
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
Sunday Apr 04, 2021
On May 7, 1998, Shannon Schieber's brother found her dead in her Center City, Philadelphia, apartment. Her neighbor had thought something odd the night before and called the police, who were dispatched to her apartment, but soon left after they heard no response. Find out what happened and how the Philadelphia PD allowed a serial rapist to get away with his crimes for years.
RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673
Crisistextline.org | text 'home' to 741741
bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy
References:
References:
https://people.com/crime/people-magazine-investigates-center-city-rapist-case/
https://www.thedp.com/article/2002/06/center_city_rapist_gets_life_sentence
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Graves
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2015/12/18/rape-is-rape-isn-t-it
Friday Apr 02, 2021
Episode 42 - New Orleans Cop Accused of Sexual Assault
Friday Apr 02, 2021
Friday Apr 02, 2021
In September 2020, NOLA officer Rodney Vicknair was arrested for sexually assaulting an under-age rape victim he brought to the hospital for a sexual assault examination. Hear the story here.
RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673
CrisisTextLine.org | text "home" to 741741
bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy | merch - 20% off #saam collection at blackbirdadvocacy.com
References:
https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/article_97254922-026b-11eb-b297-e74f8265d467.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/05/us/rodney-vicknair-new-orleans.html