Members of the Brevard County community gathered Saturday to help raise awareness about sexual assault. 

  • Women's Center held sexual assault awareness march in Cocoa
  • Staff, volunteers and victims march about two miles
  • Speakers, self-defense information were available

The Melbourne-based Women’s Center partnered along with the city of Cocoa and the Cocoa Police Department for the 9th annual Sexual Assault Awareness March. 

Longtime volunteers who assist sexual assault victims in Brevard say events like these are crucial.

“It is so important to get the awareness out, and while it is more talked about now there are still a lot of people that keep everything inside,” said volunteer Lea Collins. 

The year, the organization focused on prevention and education.

“You do encounter those victim’s that were horrifically battered by people they loved and trusted and now they are scared, they’ve lost their self-worth because of their victimization,” said Women’s Shelter advocate Jacqueline Ares. “So when they come to the women’s shelter we make a really strong effort to empower them.”

Volunteers, Women's Center staff and members of the community marched about two miles from Riverfront Park through Cocoa Village.

After the march, there were speakers, self-defense information and other resources.

For more information about the Women's Center visit womenscenter.net or call (321)242-3110.