By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A local sexual assault survivor is telling women in similar situations to fight back.

She told a crowd of about 75 people attending a Take Back The Night rally Thursday night in Downtown Bloomington that she built up the courage to seek justice against a male neighbor who raped her last year.

Tracking the lengthy court process, writing and reading a victim impact statement, and confronting her attacker in court was one of the hardest things she’s ever done.

“Of course I was scared at the possibility of him not getting time and the case being dismissed, but I at least had to try,” she said.

“I won my case and he was sent to prison, and he will be there for years,” she said.

The rally, march, and candlelight vigil were organized by YWCA McLean County’s Stepping Stones rape crisis center.

An Illinois State University senior said she too is a survivor.

“Tell me why my college education cost me $100,000 and two sexual assaults? Tell me why I have never talked to a woman who’s not been sexually harassed? How many more ‘me too’s’ will there be before we start doing something?”

It’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Thursday’s event happened the same day Bill Cosby was convicted of rape.

YWCA’s Dontae Latson said advocates are fighting the battle when the issue is not in the spotlight.

“It’s so much bigger than Cosby, and that’s not just about the guys who offend,” said Latson.

“It’s about the guys who love and care about the people in their lives, and we have a role to help end sexual assault,” Latson also said.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]