BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Advocates ETCs are hosting a screening of the documentary “Roll Red Roll” on Wednesday, April 21, as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

The documentary, which will be screened at 6:30 p.m. via the Community Library Livestream, follows the story of a 2012 sexual assault in Steubenville, Ohio, where a young woman was kidnapped and raped during a football game house party.

The true crime thriller unearths the denial, peer pressure, football culture and social media influence that played key roles in the tragedy. And it provides a look at the subsequent journey of the victim, perpetrators and the town’s experience with culture change.

“This film is an honest look into modern manifestations of rape culture and how an event such as the one depicted in the film and what happens after can shift the culture of an entire town for the better,” said Ethan Hunt, a third-year ETC intern with The Advocates. “We know that if everyone in our valley took the time to watch ‘Roll Red Roll,’ we as a community could achieve a greater understanding of rape culture and its negative effects on teens in America.”

Females ages 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. But the documentary shows how a community created a culture of consent that supports survivors.

“The bottom line is that rape is preventable,” said Film Director Nancy Schwartzmann. “Steubenville is just like your town or school. Watching and studying the police interviews, the story shows clearly that rapists and bystanders are not ‘monsters.’ They are us--our sons, our fathers, our coaches, our friends. When we turn them into ‘monsters,’ it makes rape hard to see and eradicate. We as individuals and communities have to take responsibility and teach accountability to our children so that they understand this is wrong. I am hopeful that audiences take these lessons to heart and will move forward in creating safe, loving and caring communities for our future generations.”

Hunt said the ETCs will introduce the film and share their thoughts afterwards.

“We hope to cultivate a space to discuss how we can empower, educate, and better our town’s interaction with topics such as consent, rape culture, and perspective shifts,” he said. “We believe this documentary displays the power of using our voice to uphold positive and healthy views on justice for survivors. By sharing this with people in our community, we believe we can accomplish this.”

Those who wish to view “Roll Red Roll” can RSVP at bit.ly/theadvocates_rrr. Or, tune into the livestream on April 21 at https://livestream.com/comlib