Today: Join the Day of Action to protect federal funding for survivors

Today we join together for a National Day of Action to demand protection of federal funding for sexual assault services and prevention. These critical services are a lifeline for victims, and right now they're at risk. 

The U.S. Department of Justice recently terminated hundreds of grants, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, that promote public safety and provide victims and survivors with access to safety, security, and justice. 

Federal grants are essential to the infrastructure that supports over five million adult and child survivors annually, nationwide. Maryland’s rape crisis centers provide counseling, legal services, housing, and case management to survivors of sexual violence. We work with law enforcement, go to hospitals with rape survivors, and help educate communities about how to stop sexual assault. This work is critical to survivors in crisis, and a loss of federal funding means lifesaving services will vanish. 

Join the National Day of Action to tell Maryland leaders that we can do better!
Contact your representatives today and tell them it's essential that Maryland survivors continue to receive the lifesaving legal services, advocacy, healing, and housing services they need.

Sample Script for Calls & Emails
 

I’m calling from XXX town, Maryland to urge Rep./Sen.XXX to take immediate action to protect and support increased federal funding to serve victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Federal grants from the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) are essential to the programs serving survivors in Maryland. 

Right now they're facing major problems with delays, grant terminations across the field, loss of staff, and lack of communication that are causing serious uncertainty and alarm. They need reliable, stable, and timely federal funding in order to continue providing safety, support, and services to people experiencing violence. Please ask Rep./Sen. XXX to commit to protecting this critical funding and investing in lifesaving resources.

Sample Tweets