THE POISONED PLATE

What if I told you that you had an 83% chance of being poisoned every time you had a meal?

Most of the time, it would only cause moderate discomfort. You would only risk severe, life-threatening poison 25% of the time.

Your poisoner will most likely be someone you know, love, or even a family member. If you choose to report your poisoning, nothing will be done about it, or you will not be believed. Your motivations for reporting will be questioned. You may even be blamed. What were you doing to cause this person to poison you?

 Surely you wouldn't accept this as the way it is, just an inevitable part of American life.

58 of these plates bear a poisonous plant
14 of these plants are lethal
Only 12 are safe to consume.

This is the scope of the problem of sexual violence in America.

More than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes. Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 38 men have experienced completed or attempted rape.

One in 3 female rape victims experienced it for the first time between 11-17 years old, and 1 in 8 reported that it occurred before age 10. Nearly 1 in 4 male rape victims experienced it for the first time between 11-17 years old, and about 1 in 4 reported that it occurred before age 10(CDC,2021)

Approximately 2/3 of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows. 38% of rapists are a friend or acquaintances of the victim (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005 National Crime Victimization Study).

The U.S. Department of Justice reports that:

73% of sexual assaults are perpetrated by a non-stranger

28% by an intimate partner

7% by a relative of the victim