Supporters appeal for safety on Halloween and warn of an increase in attacks around the holiday – InForum

Editor’s note: If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, help is available. The National Sexual Violence Hotline offers confidential help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-656-HOPE (4673).

FARGO — While many people look forward to Halloween fun on Thursday night or over the weekend, sexual assault prevention advocates are speaking out about the dark side of celebrating the holiday.

In the 2004 film “Mean Girls,” a line notes that Halloween is a night where people can dress however they want and “no one can say anything about it.”

However, a survey conducted by The Independent in 2019 found that 55% of men believed that “the more revealing the outfit, the more likely she (the woman) will experience harassment or assault.”

“When people are dressed a certain way, the public likes to say that they are asking for it or as if they are consenting because of what they are wearing, but that is absolutely not true,” said Barbara Huewe, advocacy supervisor for the Crisis Center for Rape and Violence in Fargo.

She said every day someone in the Fargo-Moorhead community is a victim of sexual assault. But additional concerns may arise during Halloween celebrations, she added, and it’s especially important for partygoers to be aware of what’s going on around them.

“If you see something weird that makes you feel weird, we always tell you to trust it,” Huewe said. “There’s a reason we have these instincts and sometimes we just need to take care of ourselves.”

She said the best thing to do is to step in when someone feels uncomfortable. She recommended that people follow the buddy system, make sure they spend time with people they trust and don’t go home with someone they just met.

She emphasized that the perpetrator of violence is always responsible for every incident, regardless of the person’s clothing.

This applies to Halloween or any other day of the year.

Eight cases of sexual assault have been reported to Fargo police in the last week and a half.

Huewe said there are likely to be more sexual assaults on Halloween night and on weekends around Halloween celebrations.

Campus police are also asking people to be vigilant during school Halloween events.

According to the American Psychological Association, more than 50% of all sexual assaults in higher education occur between August and November.

It’s called the “red zone” because first-year students are the most vulnerable, as many of them are using drugs or alcohol for the first time.

Police at the University of North Dakota say they see a similar amount of illegal activity as during football or hockey games.

There will be no additional enforcement measures on Halloween or this weekend, but four people are working at night and several are on call as needed.

“Halloween tends to invite parties, sometimes at universities parties can encourage drinking behavior, so any time you’re dealing with that combination of things, you know you’re at a higher risk,” says Rodney Clark, police chief at UND. .