“Start by Believing” is
a national public awareness campaign designed to change the way we respond
to victims of rape and sexual assault in our communities. All too often, sexual violence survivors who have the
courage to tell someone what happened are blamed for bringing it on themselves.
The City of Richmond kicked off the “Start
by Believing” campaign with a formal commitment signing by Richmond Mayor
Dwight Jones on Tuesday April 21 at City Hall.
The Reynolds Police Department conducted
“Start by Believing” campaigns on April 21 and 22 at all three Reynolds campuses,
encouraging students, faculty and staff to support victims of rape and sexual
assault by signing a pledge and wearing a teal Reynolds “I Believe” button. The
buttons were distributed at the signing booths and the Reynolds Police
Department. The Reynolds community
responded, with about 150 pledges signed and 1,500 teal "I Believe" buttons distributed and spotted
on shirts on all three campuses.
Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney
Shannon L. Taylor and members of her staff stopped by the signing booth at the Parham
Road Campus to lend their support to this important campaign.
