IN THE NEWS
Legislation aims to prevent sexual abuse of children
Audio included here on WCMU website (WCMU RADIO) MT. PLEASANT MI – A bi-partisan package of bills has been introduced in Lansing to help prevent the sexual abuse of Michigan children. The bills are titled “Erin’s Law,” after sexual abuse survivor Erin Merryn. She got the legislature in her home state of Illinois to pass […]
Interview: Erin’s Law sponsor
(NEWSCHANNEL 3) GRAND RAPIDS MI– A new bill is being introduced that would require teachers educate kids about sexual abuse prevention. It’s called Erin’s Law. Erin Merryn says she was sexually assaulted by her cousin for two years and bullied into keeping silent. She says if she had been taught that it’s okay to speak up […]
New York State Senate passes ‘Erin Merryn’s Law’
(THE CITIZEN) AUBURN N.Y. – “Erin’s Law” has cleared one hurdle in the New York State Legislature. The New York State Senate passed Erin Merryn’s Law Monday by a vote of 57-1. Erin Merryn’s Law would require schools to add “age appropriate information” on child sex abuse prevention to the curriculum for child abduction, according […]
NY considers passing Erin’s Law to fight child sex abuse
(Your News Now) SYRACUSE N.Y. – An anti-abuse advocate and survivor is pushing to pass her law in all 50 states in an effort to fight child sex abuse. Erin Merryn says starting when she was six, she was sexually abused by a neighbor, then again at age 11 by an older cousin. Merryn says […]
Lawmakers Take A Closer Look At Sex Abuse Task Force
(WABI-TV5 NEWS) AUGUSTA MAINE – Lawmakers heard from sexual abuse victims Wednesday as they consider forming a task force to raise awareness about the subject. Representative Joyce Maker proposed the bill that would create a panel to make an appropriate aged based curriculum to help kids identify and report sexual abuse. That curriculum would establish […]
Rep. Joyce Maker Pushing To Protect Children From Sexual Abuse
(WQDY-FM NEWS) CALAIS MAINE – Thanks to persistence by State Representative Joyce Maker of Calais, lawmakers will consider a measure that would help protect children in K-5 from sexual abuse so they understand what constitutes inappropriate contact with adults. A month ago, it was turned down by a legislative council but on Thursday, Rep. Maker was […]
Law pushed by area woman goes to Quinn
(DAILY HERALD) SPRINGFIELD – With a signature from Gov. Pat Quinn, Erin Merryn could accomplish one of the goals for which she quit her job and dedicated her time. Merryn, 25, of Schaumburg, has been pushing a law bearing her name Erin’s Law in Illinois all year. Merryn was sexually abused as a child. This […]
Time Magazine: Erin’s Law: When the Abuser Is No Stranger
(TIME MAGAZINE) – 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. 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 […]