Bucks County officials, representatives from law enforcement agencies, victim advocates, and community members gathered Thursday outside the Bucks County Administration Building for the Rally Against Sexual Violence.
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The event was held to demonstrate support for survivors and call for offender accountability, justice, and community-wide prevention efforts.
According to organizers, the rally highlighted the impact of sexual violence on individuals, families, and communities. It also focused on a shared responsibility to foster safer environments.
“All of us know somebody who has experienced or been impacted by sexual violence,” said Bucks County Commissioner Chairperson Diane Ellis-Marseglia. “Counted among the survivors are our friends, our neighbors and relatives, and standing with them means more than just offering words of support. It means creating systems that respond with compassion, ensuring survivors can access the help they need to feel safe, and working together as a community to prevent violence and hold offenders accountable.”
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Advocates at the gathering spoke of the importance of visible public support and accessible resources for those affected.
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“Survivors should never have to wonder whether their community will stand with them,” said Penny Ettinger, executive director of Network of Victims Assistance (NOVA). “This rally is about making that support visible. It is about listening to survivors, believing them, ensuring they have access to services and continuing the work necessary to prevent sexual violence before it happens.”
