blackbird: an advocacy podcast

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and today, to close out this month, I felt I would bring you an incredibly important story to me. You all have empowered me to finally speak my truth and share my survivor story. This is why I advocate. A special thank you to all who participated in sharing "Why I Advocate" for this episode.  And an extra special thank you to Rosebud Ireland for lending us her beautiful song Sister Survivors for this episode. RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673 bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy

In May of 1996, California Polytechnic freshman Kristin Smart attended a birthday party for a friend on campus. She was walked back to her dorm by Paul Flores, never to be seen or heard from again. Flores had been suspected in her murder since the beginning, but hardly any evidence could prove Kristin was even dead. New developments have led to Flores' arrest and new information about his past. Find out more in this episode. RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673 bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy   References: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/09/07/kristin-smart-vanished-in-1996-authorities-say-she-may-be-buried-on-her-college-campus/ [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2016/09/07/kristin-smart-vanished-in-1996-authorities-say-she-may-be-buried-on-her-college-campus/] https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article100287482.html [https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article100287482.html] https://www.recordnet.com/article/20070524/A_NEWS/705240316 [https://www.recordnet.com/article/20070524/A_NEWS/705240316] https://calcoastnews.com/2020/02/paul-flores-detained-in-disappearance-of-kristin-smart/ [https://calcoastnews.com/2020/02/paul-flores-detained-in-disappearance-of-kristin-smart/] https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/14/us/kristin-smart-case-district-attorney/index.html [https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/14/us/kristin-smart-case-district-attorney/index.html] https://ktla.com/news/local-news/paul-flores-suspect-in-kristin-smart-case-was-subject-of-redondo-beach-rape-investigation-14-years-ago/ [https://ktla.com/news/local-news/paul-flores-suspect-in-kristin-smart-case-was-subject-of-redondo-beach-rape-investigation-14-years-ago/] https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article250978094.html [https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article250978094.html] https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-27/kristin-smart-paul-flores-la-sexual-assault-claims

Today, April 28, 2021 marks another Denim Day. Hear all about the case that sparked this movement (and the absurd 'Jeans Alibi') and why it is so important to wear your denim today! https://www.rcne.com/contact/countries/italy/ [https://www.rcne.com/contact/countries/italy/] | +39 055 602311 (violence against women); + 39 055 601375 (violence against children) | http://www.artemisiacentroantiviolenza.it/ [http://www.artemisiacentroantiviolenza.it/] RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673 bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy   References: https://www.denimdayinfo.org/history https://www.cbsnews.com/news/italians-protest-rape-ruling/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/italians-protest-rape-ruling/] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/277881.stm [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/277881.stm] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denim_Day

Brandon Lee Dye was born November 4, 1988. From what I could find on his Facebook page it seemed he had struggled with addiction for a long while and he acknowledged that he had a lot of grief and trauma that he needed to work through and alluded to his drug use being caused by this trauma. On the night of July 15, 2019, in Virginia, Brandon was at home in with his girlfriend, Megan Anne Walthall. Find out what happened that night and why we discuss this case during SAAM. RAINN.org | 1-800-656-4673 bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy   References: https://nypost.com/2021/03/04/woman-sentenced-for-sexually-abusing-boyfriend-as-he-died/ [https://nypost.com/2021/03/04/woman-sentenced-for-sexually-abusing-boyfriend-as-he-died/] https://www.foundandsons.com/obituaries/Brandon-Dye/#!/Obituary [https://www.foundandsons.com/obituaries/Brandon-Dye/#!/Obituary] https://martinsvillebulletin.com/news/state-and-regional/fredericksburg-woman-gets-16-years-in-prison-for-abusing-boyfriend-before-he-died-of-overdose/article_4ab9fa82-e6f7-55fc-9666-8cc096f167af.html [https://martinsvillebulletin.com/news/state-and-regional/fredericksburg-woman-gets-16-years-in-prison-for-abusing-boyfriend-before-he-died-of-overdose/article_4ab9fa82-e6f7-55fc-9666-8cc096f167af.html] https://potomaclocal.com/2012/10/25/girl-told-father-about-slaying-mother/ [https://potomaclocal.com/2012/10/25/girl-told-father-about-slaying-mother/] https://www.foundandsons.com/obituaries/Brenda-Dye/#!/Obituary

The Manhattan, NY, DA has decided his office will no longer prosecute sex workers following suit behind a few other jurisdictions in the US. Find out what this means for sex workers and johns. bytesize.me/blackbirdadvocacy Reference: https://www.npr.org/2021/04/21/989588072/a-relic-and-burden-manhattan-district-attorney-to-stop-prosecuting-prostitution