If you tell anybody, you will destroy our family, she said.. Erin Merryn is a 21-year-old college sophomore who wrote a book, "Stolen Innocence: Memoir," about her struggles after she claims she was molested by her first cousin. The Church Sex Abuse Scandals Around the World, Child-Abuse Case Reveals Vietnam's Lax Social Services, (Read why most child abuse goes unreported). You seem incredibly resilient. ABC News agreed to use her pen name and a false name for the man she says abused her. Nightmares. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Read more about Erins Law at www.erinslaw.org, or about Erin herself at www.erinmerryn.net. JANESVILLE, Wis. (WMTV) - Illinois woman Erin Merryn spoke in Wisconsin Wednesday, pushing the state to pass the law in her namesake that aims to protect children and prevent child sexual abuse. 5 talking about this. My abusers threatened me, and I believed them. After graduating with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in social work from Western Illinois and Aurora Universities in 2008 and 2009, Health Communications published her second book, Living for Today: From Incest and Molestation to Fearlessness and Forgiveness. So far, her story has inspired many kids to speak up about abuse, and that has led to more predators put behind bars. Merryn: Yes. Sexually abused and raped from age 6-8 by an adult neighbor Erin was threatened to stay silent by her abuser. But at age 11, Merryn's second nightmare began. (2013) As a result, she has been interviewed by many major news organizations and TV programs beginning in 2006, on Good Morning America, Oprah, CNN, Today Show, Fox, Katie Couric, Nightline, TLC, OWN, MSNBC, People Magazine, Time Magazine, Glamour Magazine, USA Today, London Times, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and dozens more local media. However, she said theabuseand rape continueduntil she was almost nine. I found myself locked in bedrooms, basements, bathrooms, a car, garage and repeatedly assaulted by my cousin.. Erin Merryn (born February 2, 1985) is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, An Unimaginable Act, Bailey No Ordinary Cat, and The Diary of a Cat Named Carrot. How and when did you do it first? Merryn: I cover these two words in my second book, "Living for Today." Merryn says her abuse ended when the family moved to a new neighborhood, Schaumburg, Illinois but she took her secret with her. He did respond admitting what he did and saying he is using his past to not make the same mistakes now in his life. When all you have ever been told by an abuser is to stay silent, no one will believe you, this is our secret, you learn to believe that, and (it) makes it extremely difficult to speak up about. For so many years I stayed angry and bitter towards him. Erin Merryn, A Voice for the Voiceless. Download it here. Meanwhile, the survivor who came up with the idea aftersufferingher own personal horrors shared her story with senators Tuesday. I also give lots of insight and resources to parents in my third book An Unimaginable Act on warning sings to look for like bed wetting, wearing extra layers of clothes, avoiding a certain person, not wanting to be around them when they had no problem before, academic changes in school, depression, withdrawal, nightmares, aggression; acting out sexually, she said. My mom was a mess, that day she probably cried for 10 straight hours, looking at my dad saying, we missed all the red flags, her grades, she was depressed, Erin recalled. If they feel they are in danger or in an uncomfortable situation, they can call home and use the code word, something as simple as, I forgot my math homework at school. . Merryn is an author and activist against sexual abuse who founded "Erin's Law," which requires school to. She told them that, growing up in Illinois, she had experienced tornado drills, fire drills and bus drills; was taught about stranger danger and eight ways to say no to drugs through D.A.R.E., but no one ever taught her how to protect herself from sexual abuse and what to do if a family member or friend molested or raped her. He doesnt sleep out ever. He was free, but the rage inside Erin remained. Erin says she believes everyone is born with a purpose and she has found hers through the events that have occurred in her life. There are thousands of accused sex offenders every year who are found not guilty living in our communities. In her diary Erin Merryn reveals how her life was transformed one night when, as an eleven-year-old, she was sexually abused in her grandparents condo by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted. I left all the fragmented sentences, misspelled words, because I wanted readers to hear the voice of a young child.. Merryn travels the country advocating for children who are victims of sexual assault. Glamour magazine named Merryn Woman of the Year 2012, and People magazine named her one of fifteen women changing the world and a HEROES Among us in 2013.[9]. Silence Broken and Stigmas Shattered -- Help for Incest Survivors Is Here Fans of Erin Merryn's heart-wrenching debut memoir Stolen Innocence were left wondering at the end what would become of an emotionally fragile Erin after her confrontation with the reality of being a child of incest and molestation. It would be many more years until that voice would become the strong, confident woman that I have become. Merryn says starting when she was six, she was sexually abused by a neighbor, then at 11 by an older cousin. Sexually abused as a. As the abuse continued, and as she was forced to see her abuser over and over again in social situations, she struggled with self-doubt, panic attacks, nightmares and the weight of whether or not to tell her terrible secret. In just a few short years, she has already persuaded half the countryto pass similar versions of the law. Erin has appeared in People Magazine, Glamour Magazine, Time Magazine, The New York Times, Time Magazine, New York Post, The London Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, among others. No one would believe me, she recalls this man telling her. She is an activist against child sexual abuse as well as the founder of Erin's Law, which requires public schools to teach children personal body safety in order to prevent child sexual abuse. Chris Newlin - National Children's Advocacy Center That is what brought Erin to tell her story at Metamora Township High School last Monday afternoon, during an all-school assembly. Vermont State Board of Education has required it in schools since 2009. Little did I realize, that by moving, I was getting that much closer to the next perpetrator in my life, she said. Wow, I have a decision to make. Survivors need to know they have nothing to be ashamed of. In 2013, Governor Quinn signed it into law requiring Illinois schools to teach it every single year. Do you know if it was as healing for him as it was for you? I didnt want to talk to anyone about this. Caught you off guard? Eventually though the conversation has to shift and that question that I will never forget. Merryn's experiences belie the more common parental fears of "stranger danger." [3], She graduated from Schaumburg High School in 2004[4] and earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Western Illinois University in 2008. Erin Merryn (born February 2, 1985) is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, and An Unimaginable Act. The brilliant minds behind putting in place a center that had a home away from home feeling to give children a sense of security and comfort.At thirteen was the age I walked through the CAC. In 2013 Governor Quinn signed Erins Law mandating child sexual abuse education in all Illinois public schools. Oh and of course my cousin's voice echoing through my head "No one will believe you, you have no proof, you will destroy this family, this is our secret!" I will not stop until children in all 50 states are protected from sexual abuse.". At first, it happened when she was babysitting her younger cousins and their older brother would arrive home before their mother. These monsters are living in all of our backyards., (Tip: Offender Locator is a great app to have on your smart phone.). But what followed was depression,an eating disorder and a suicide attempt. That happened until I was 13. Who encouraged you to keep talking, to keep fighting? Erin Merryn, Stolen Innocence: Triumphing Over a Childhood Broken by Abuse: A Memoir 0 likes Like "Brian, this letter is probably coming as a complete surprise to you, but I didn't feel I should warn you since you never warned me when you were going to use my body for own damn pleasures. "Erin's Law" is named after Schaumburg native and activist Erin Merryn. Did you have a helper or helpers in your life? Erin Merryn detailed the treatment and help she received from the Children's Advocacy Center, which has 900 locations across the U.S.A. - a safe environment for children to share their stories of abuse. "He told me, just like in the past by this other perpetrator, 'Erin, this is our . Erins ongoing abuse with her friends uncle was over. My favorite story is out of my own state of Illinois (One lawmaker) had been against school mandates her entire career, and (the sponsor) warned me, she is going to get on her mic and go on about how this should not be passed, schools should not be mandated to do things, etc. Im glad he gets body boundaries and safety and Ill be pounding it into his head as long as I can. What are the most persistent knowledge gaps? As I often tell people, our innocence was stolen, (our) trust taken, but the one thing we can reclaim as survivors is our voices. 46 reviews. Visit sheriffalerts.com to find out if there are sex offenders in your area. I can remember that as if it happened yesterday. The only education I ever received about sexual abuse was when I became a victim, and the abusers threatened bad things would happen if I ever told. Erin's Law, which debuted in Illinois, is now in 37 states and mandates that public schools teach age-appropriate sex abuse prevention to grades as young as pre-K. Merryn said those lessons on . So I stayed silent. Merryn believes more can be done to ensure children also learn how learn how to protect themselves from sexual predators. Her older cousin sexually abused her from 11-13 years old. Here's how to protect your kids from online predators. Again, she started having trouble in school, becoming distant and withdrawn. Says Merryn: "[Ashley] made me pinky promise not to say anything. I wanted to know why, and when I asked if he was abused, he denied it and said he abused me out of curiosity and an urge of sexuality. All rights reserved. After an evening of playing with Ashley's dollhouse and watching The Little Mermaid, the girls went to bed in Ashley's room. Erin Elizabeth had cheerful holidays turned into a fight to protect herself from evil where she often lost. Names were the only thing she changed. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Erin Merryn, a Chicago-area resident behind an Ohio bill that would require public schools to provide age-appropriate sexual abuse prevention instruction, told a Senate. Senator Gillibrand on the federal version of Erin's Law to give federal funding to the law, and in December 2015 President Obama signed the federal version of Erin's Law under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Erin's Law was the first law passed in the United States requiring sexual abuse prevention education to be taught to students in school every year, and it was subsequently passed in 38 U.S. states before being signed into federal law. (See Gary Glitter's sex scandal.). How did you find this voice? Victims of abuse know their perpetrators 80% to 90% of the time, says David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Who were they? Read more She was named Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year in 2012 and a People magazine Hero Among Us for her tireless work promoting Erin's Law nationwide with a mission to our keep children safe by educating them about personal body safety. The words of my cousin began haunting me. Info here from RAINNwww.rainn.org/news/president-signs-measures-support-state-action-prevent-and-address-child-sexual-abuseErin's media appearances have included Access Hollywood 2020Tamron Hall 2020HLN 2020CBS Morning Show 2019The Morning Blend 2019CNN 2018, HLN 2018, BUILD 2018 TLC Breaking the Silence Documentary TODAY show 2015, Nancy Grace 2015, ABC Nightline 2015, CNN 2015, Dr. Drew 2015, Inside Edition 2015, MSNBC 2015, Oprah Winfrey Network 2014, Windy City Live 2014, MSNBC 2013, FOX 2013, Katie Couric 2013, Oprah Life Class 2012, CNN 2012, Issues with Jane Velez Mitchell 2011, Oprah Winfrey Show October 2010, Montel Williams in April/July 2006, and Good Morning America in May 2006. The day I left that place I took a piece of my life back, and that was my voice. Erin said the abuse stopped after her sister spoke up about her own abuse. Merryn suffered sexual abuse by a male neighbor at ages six to eight[2] and by a teenage cousin at ages 11 to 13. Childhood sexual abuse survivor turned author, speaker, child advocate and activist Erin Merryn is the founder and president of Erins Law. She was named Glamour Magazine Woman of the Year in 2012 and a People magazine Hero Among Us for her tireless work promoting Erin's Law nationwide with a mission to our keep children safe by educating them about personal body safety. It was just the beginning of a long journey. Two years later, though,whenErin was 11, she said her older teenage cousin started abusing her too. There, at her friends house, in the middle of the night, she was sexually assaulted by her friends uncle. Here's How We Amplify It | National Children's Alliance", "Erin Merryn Fights for Law to Help Child Sexual Assault Victims", "Erin's Law: When the Abuser Is No Stranger", "State Senate Passes Erin Merryn's Law Aimed at Child Sex Abuse Prevention", "Survivor Recalls Alleged Incest in Book", "Child Sexual Abuse Survivor Gets Law Passed", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Erin_Merryn&oldid=1132623568, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 January 2023, at 19:15. So be careful sending little Tommy for ice at the machine down the hall and inform teens who often book motels after prom. --TV host Katie Couric, 1992, 2002, and 2006 Woman of the Year.After suffering years of sexual abuse for six years of her childhood Erin broke her silence when she was 13 at a Children's Advocacy Center. I also tell parents don't give childrens private parts pet names. Children must be taught to tell a trusted adult if anyone touches their private parts. Last week the law passed in two more states, Virginia and Wyoming, bringing the total to 34. But where were the eight ways on how to "get away and tell today?" Erin Merryn (born February 2, 1985) is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, An Unimaginable Act, Bailey No Ordinary Cat, and The Diary of a Cat Named Carrot. It happened again after we moved away, when a cousin started abusing me in my sleep when I was 11 years old. It is my hope hearing my message today youll see the importance of what Im here to talk to you about, said Erin Merryn. Merryn didn't tell anyone until she was 13 and she suspected her sister was also being abused. (2016) Consider This Self - Author and Children's Advocate. Erin Merryn (born February 2, 1985) is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, and An Unimaginable Act. Call it what it is: penis and vagina.. ThediaryIkept my secrets locked away in, where I lost my innocence, I turned into a book mysenior year of high school called Stolen Innocence, because thats whathappened to me, Merryn said. Since going public 10 years ago, I have had no contact with him. Merryn, then 6, was excited about her first sleepover with her kindergarten classmate Ashley. The two continued to correspond for seven months. By speaking up even when family is against the idea, it is freedom for a survivor and allows them to reclaim a piece of their lives back. Im terribly concerned about that, said OBrien. She is at war against this silent evil that is lurking in the shadows and is devoted to opening the eyes of the public to the tens of thousands of children who are being abused right now silently in our own communities and backyards without our knowledge. As an adult, she's reclaimed the voice her abusers tried to silence. Erins Law is a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) non-profit organization. She has appeared on Oprah, Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, Fox, MSNBC, TLC documentary Breaking the Silence, CBS This Morning, Katie Couric, Tamaron Hall, 700 Club, and over 200 local media stations. Thirty-seven states have passed Erins Law and Merryn has tried three times in seven years to get the bill passed in Ohio. Here's a glimpse of her life and why she's on a quest for social change. Lawmakers are in the dark about this. Erin said they just wanted to make sure their nephew got help. Erin Elizabeth heard over the years from 11-13 "Nobody will believe you, you have no proof, you will destroy our large extended family, this is our secret don't tell anyone." Statistics show that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused by the age of 18. Eleven-year-old Erin Merryn's life was transformed on the night she was sexually abused by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted. Merryn: What caused me to come forward was unfortunately finding out that my little sister was also being abused. Acting out both at home and in school, she was given an IEP (Individual Education Plan) and was told she was just going through a phase; that her parents brief separation was the probable root cause. After enduring a childhood filled w. My abuse first happened at weeks shy of my seventh birthday by a neighbor it went on until age 8 and a half. Donors may not deduct contributions made to Erins Law under IRC Section 170 (c) (2). In it, Erin chronicles how she cultivated the strength to face her abuser and eventually found relief from years of emotional restlessness, while also igniting the beginnings of a new fearless journey. I remember reading this thinking, they dont teach us that in school. House Bill 105 overwhelminglypassed the Ohio Housea year ago. She is an activist against child sexual abuse. Erins Law has now going international with judge in Kerala India requiring Erins Law in the 2023-2024 school year. My mission, through this legislation, is to educate children on what I never learned. Have there been times in your life when haven't done well? A week later, she got a reply. Childhood sexual abuse survivor turned author, speaker, child advocate and activist Erin Merryn is the founder and president of Erin's Law. She didn't want to stop visiting her friend but tried to find times when Richard wasn't around. Throughout her school years, Erin Merryn of Schaumburg, Ill., received plenty of lessons in the dangers her elders thought she could encounter during her childhood. Then, after seven months of back-and-forths, he wrote a heartfelt apology to Erin and asking for her forgiveness, but also understanding if she couldnt forgive him. However, Merryn said this time the perpetrator was an older cousin, someone she had viewed as a brother figure. She is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for . Erin Merryn is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, An Unimaginable Act, Bailey No Ordinary Cat, and The Diary of a Cat Named Carrot. But only 1 in every 10 sexually abused children ever tell anyone about it. It brings it all back to the surface. Check out Erins third book, An Unimagiable Act. This book describes Erins journey across America to get Erins Law passed and resources for survivors, parents, and educators. So many children will be protected because of her." Merryn was also the owner of the viral Instagram cat, Bailey, until he died in December 2018. After Bailey's passing, she adopted a kitten named Carrot. See the sex abuse in Israel's ultra-orthodox community. She was afraid she would be a burden to her cousin and that no one would believe her. Erin Merryn A Voice for the Voiceless Author, Activist, Speaker, wife, mother, and force behind Erin's Law Glamour Magazine 2012 Woman of the Year. She is the author of Bailey, No Ordinary Cat, Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, and An Unimaginable Act. Buccos bill requires all school districts to incorporate age-appropriate sexual abuse awareness and prevention education in grades preschool through 12 as part of Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. You've grown into a powerful voice who is bearing witness to the nation. In the end, he was given seven years of probation, 1,000 hours of community service, he attended a two-year sex offender program, and couldnt come within 100 feet of Erin or her sister. But when it came to being sexually abused, there was nothing. Anyone who has felt victimized, ashamed, isolated, and silenced by their abusers will receive a road-map in the book for self-discovery, forgiveness, and empowerment to overcome trauma and live fully and fearlessly for today. Alaska's version of Erin's Law is currently under consideration by the Alaska State Legislature as House Bill 233. How? My parents believed me and my cousin Brian confessed to the police, she said. I guess what I was trying to ask is, why do you think your abusers chose you instead of some other girl as a target? Merryn: I was terrified. He continued to abuse her on and off for nearly two years, she says, often at holidays and celebrations with her close-knit extended family. She is an activist against child sexual abuse as well as the founder of Erin's Law, which requires public schools to teach children personal body safety in order to prevent child sexual abuse. Now, thanks to state Sen. Anthony R. Bucco, children of the Garden State may soon benefit from Merryns harrowing experience, knowledge and hope. At a family gathering at her grandparents' lake house, she awoke in the middle of the night to find her cousin "Brian" (again, not his real name), then 13 . I feel it would have given me the voice that these men took from me. Alaska Dispatch: Silence is a powerful way in which sexual abuse is kept secret and is perpetuated. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) During her quest,. Please join Erin Merryn in her crusade to protect children from sexual abuse and donate to help her with her travel expenses today! A place I went to with my eleven year old sister and mother. I wouldn't have quit my job four years ago as a master's level counselor to go after this had I not been lead by the Lord. Families pressuring loved ones to stay quiet is not uncommon, but as I often like to tell survivors, by speaking up you are not only helping yourself heal; you will help save other children from experiencing this same horror at the hands of their abuser. This fundraiser is organized by Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (Caase). She is an activist against child sexual abuse. Erin Merryn, force behind Erins Law, tells her story at Metamora Township High School, Central Illinois Poetry Out Loud regional winners announced, Area students named to St. Olaf Colleges Dean's List, Fall archery hunters reach third-highest turkey harvest on record for season, FOP seeks applicants for new Peer Wellness program that will assist law enforcement officers in crisis, Local students make Carthage College dean's list, Local students named to Illinois Wesleyan University's fall 2022 Dean's List, Local students named to Trinity Christian Colleges fall 2022 Dean's List, Illinois Department of Revenue reminds eligible taxpayers to take advantage of Senior Citizens Tax Deferral Program, United Methodists form new church in Washington, District 52 proposes referendum on April ballot, Illinois natives REO Speedwagon return to the Illinois State Fair Grandstand stage, Interrupted Journey exhibition opens at Dickson Mounds Museum, Scots win 12 events at Roger Haynes Invitational, WCHS Panthers bring home All-State Honors, State Titles. (Josh Rultenberg/Spectrum News 1), California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The Ohio Senate is considering a bill to teach elementary, middle and high school students how to protect themselves from sexual predators, Erins Law is named after Erin Merryn who was sexually abused as a child, Thirty-seven states have passed Erins Law and Merryn has tried three times in seven years to get the bill passed in Ohio, House Bill 105 overwhelmingly passed the Ohio House a year ago. Erin Merryn from Elgin, Illinois, was just weeks shy of her seventh birthday when she was raped by an adult neighbor. You will eventually hear about this law being passed in all 50 states, and I plan on one day taking it and making it international, said Erin. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Erin Merryn (Author) 139 ratings Kindle Edition $17.99 Read with Our Free App Paperback $16.56 16 Used from $11.22 5 New from $45.35 Eleven-year-old Erin Merryn's life was transformed on the night she was sexually abused by her cousin, someone she loved and trusted. How I wondered am I suppose to tell this stranger my pain when I am too ashamed to even talk in detail with my parents about it. Hes grown into quite the little man and doesnt want me near the bathroom when he showers or gets dressed and I respect that. Merryn: The first thing someone can do is start talking about it. Two of those children were my sister and I. The case never went to trial, and Brian received some counseling, but no punishment. It can happen to anyone, which is why we need to empower our children with their voice to speak up and tell and to not keep it a secret if they are abused. Merryn now had a duty as a big sister to protect her younger sibling. Merryn's family, including her two sisters, moved to another neighborhood in the same town when Merryn was 8, and she stopped seeing Ashley. Alaska Dispatch: Thank you for reminding us that abuse happens across all socioeconomic conditions. After graduating, Erin went on to earn her Masters degree in social work, but from time to time she would still consult her little pink childhood diary. In December 2010 I was voted News Maker of the year for the Daily Herald.She earned her masters degree in Social Work and is the author of Stolen Innocence, Living for Today, AnUnimaginableAct, Bailey No Ordinary Cat & The Diary of a Cat Named Carrot. Merryn kept her confusion to herself. The reality is, 93 percent of the time it is not strangers that are hurting kids. The founder of Erin's Law. Merryn realized he had been molesting her sister too. In the wee hours of the night, Ashley's uncle "Richard" (not his real name), who lived in the house with his niece, appeared in the darkened room. Alaska Dispatch: Let's talk about two words we hear a lot when covering sexual abuse stories: victim and survivor. Merryn advocates for sexual abuse victims. She is the founder of Erin's Law, which is a group advocating for child sexual abuse awareness. But both she and her sister did tell their stories. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. She was taught how to ride out a tornado, instructed in the eight steps for turning down illegal drugs, and told how to react to a friendly stranger who might try to abduct her. Learn More. Merryn travels the country bearing witness to what happened to her in hopes of encouraging states to enact laws requiring sexual abuse education in schools. Do you still stay in contact with him? No one will believe you, Erin. [7] She published her diary detailing her cousin's abuse and her own recovery, relapse and reconciliation in book form as Stolen Innocence in 2005. MORE: Monmouth U. faces federal sexual assault case. 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Own abuse. `` it came to being sexually abused children ever tell anyone until she was sexually by... Trial, and Brian received some counseling, but the rage inside Erin remained in 1991 but at 11! To teach it every single year erin merryn cousin brian her own abuse. `` silence is a tax-exempt 501 c! Childrens private parts pet names read more about Erins Law at www.erinslaw.org, or about Erin herself at www.erinmerryn.net believes. 'S dollhouse and watching the little man and doesnt want me erin merryn cousin brian the bathroom when showers... All 50 states are protected from sexual predators belie the more common parental fears of `` danger! Near the bathroom when he showers or gets dressed and I ( See Gary Glitter 's sex....
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