"History was made in Minneapolis as survivors and supporters broke ground on the nation’s first permanent memorial to survivors of sexual assault.
A rape survivor spearheaded the years-long project. The open space at Boom Island Park is intended to create a safe place for healing.
The Survivor’s Memorial goes so much deeper than the ceremonial dirt dug for its groundbreaking Thursday morning.
'This initiative started just weeks after my ex-boyfriend broke into my apartment and raped me,' said Sarah Super.
The victim-survivor pushed for the project after hearing from others who echoed ‘me too.’ It took four years of courage, sacrifice and fundraising to get to this day.
'This memorial is a community response to sexual violence, rape culture and injustice. It will be a place for truth-telling, a place that validates our experiences, our suffering and our courage,' Super said.
The circle of support and healing at Boom Island Park will sit along the Mississippi River with a view of downtown Minneapolis. A project the Minneapolis Park Board supported.
'We see you, we hear you, we believe you and you are not alone,' Park Board President Brad Bourn said."
