Every month, Kaleidoscope will feature artists from Ward Melville High School. This piece will feature one of our own journalists, Erin Zipman and some of the statistics that inspired her art.

Every 98 seconds, an American will be sexually assaulted; but 99% of assailants will walk free. Of every six American women, one will be the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime.  [www.rainn.org]

One in five African American women has been raped in their lifetime. [vawnet.org]

For every African-American woman who reports her rape, at least fifteen African-American women do not report theirs. [endsexualviolencect.org]

47% of trans people will experience sexual assault in their lifetime. [www.hrc.org]

Sexual violence has deep psychological and emotional consequences. Marginalized groups are at a greater risk of being assaulted, and are less likely to report their experiences.

No one should have to bear the weight of being violated by someone else. If you are a victim of sexual assault, don’t suffer in silence. You are not alone. You are not to blame. You deserve help. Get in touch with a guidance counselor, or call a hotline.

National Sexual Assault Hotline, available 24 hours: 1-800-656-4673

Safe Horizon Domestic Violence hotline, available 24 hours: 800-621-4673