CSSS: Campaign for Safer Subway Stations (cont'd)
Crimefighting Group Forms Due To Sexual Assault Of Asian-American Women
CSSS official press release

Sample letters for the above individuals can be requested by emailing or phoning CSSS as directed below. CSSS also strongly urges the public to send letters to the Assistant District Attorney prosecuting the suspect for the January 29 subway station assault; she is Assistant D.A. Martha Bashford at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, 1 Hogan Place, NY, NY 10013. Please refer to the case People vs. Kyle Birch.

The crime-fighting members of CSSS vow to have a supportive presence for the victim during the court trial. CSSS is also distributing an educational brochure for public awareness; brochures in Chinese and Tagalog are also available. The letter writing campaign as well as a petition campaign is also being conducted to pressure the MTA and elected officials. Last but not least, CSSS is holding a fundraising poetry/spoken word event called "Voice Up!," on Wed., May 2nd, at 7pm at Bluestockings Bookstore, 172 Allen Street, New York City. There is a $5 suggestion donation.

According to Vinluan: "The friends and family of the victim have been in great anguish for her physical danger and her emotional suffering. But now we are also very angry and very determined to hold the MTA accountable for safer subway stations and to put the District Attorney's office on notice that we will be monitoring the prosecution of the suspect in this case." Alcantara-Tan added: "It has been an amazing experience to see so many concerned individuals take action, rally together, and build coalitions. It is empowering to ally with other peoples and organizations that are also dedicated to combating violence against women." ·

• In the US, 2 women are raped every minute.
• It is estimated that one in four American women will be raped.
• It is estimated that 84% of all rapes are not reported to the police
• Within the past decade, rape rates have increased 4 times as fast as the total crime rate.
• Rape has a devastating impact on the mental health of victims. 31% of all victims develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. When compared with nonvictims, rape victims have been found to be 8.7 times more likely to attempt suicide.

CAMPAIGN FOR SAFER SUBWAY STATIONS URGES THE PUBLIC: BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!

TELL THE MTA AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO MAKE SUBWAY STATIONS SAFE!

The CSSS Is Endorsed By:

Asian American Women's Alliance
Equality Now
FilCRA-Filipino Civil Rights Advocates
Gabriela Network-NY/NJ Chapter
Kilawin Kolektibo
New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault
NYU Asian/Pacific/American Studies & Institute
NYU Metropolitan Studies Program
NYU Office for African American, Latino, & Asian American Student Services (OASIS) Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA)-NY Chapter
Take Back the Night of Rutgers University
The Street Harassment Project
United Sikh Association
Women's Self Defense Coalition of Rutgers University
V-Day: Until the Violence Stops

For further information, contact:
Ermena Vinluan or Margarita Alcantara-Tan at:
email: CSSSny@aol.com
voicemail: (212) 894-3748, ext. 3365
mail: CSSS, c/o M. Alcantara-Tan, POB 507, New York, NY 10159-0507

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