The courtroom was silent as, women and girls raise their voices and tell their stories of sexual assault. One by one, the women reveal the crime committed against them by Larry Nassar and across the country women are coming together and marching to bring awareness to the situation. Shocking sexual allegations are arising in the new year, from the #metoo campaign, women’s marches and the sexual harassment case of Larry Nassar. Women and men are now speaking up against the sexual harassment that many people face. Sexual harassment is illicit, to say in the least and needs to be stopped. Anyone who is affected in a negative way cannot reside anymore in the cruel world of harassment.

According to Cnn.com, on Jan. 24, sports physician Larry Nassar was sentenced to 175 years in jail for his sexual harassment crimes against more than 160 girls, mainly gymnasts who were his patients. These sex crimes dated back to the 90s and continued until 2018. Girls and women came forward to speak of the abuse that Nassar committed. The MSU physician and USA Gymnastics medical coordinator had a background in child pornography and other malice sex crimes. Nassar earliest release date is not until Mar. 23, 2069. This man deserves this for his crimes against women in a professional sports workplace.

With the #metoo movement shining a light on sexual harassment in the workplace, some remain silent and with this, women need to know how to handle the sexual harassment. According to CareerBuilder, the reasons for silence is fear of being labeled as a troublemaker, it’s their word against the person and were afraid of losing their job. Victims should stand up and have a light shined on their story. People need to listen to these victims.

With Nassar and his sex crimes, women are marching in protest of sexual harassment along with participating in the awareness campaign of #metoo, where women come out and tell their stories of being sexually harassed in the workplace or elsewhere.The purpose of this campaign is to give women the empowerment of empathy through their struggles of sexual harassment.. The campaign was introduced by Tarana Burke in 2006, but was made popular in Oct. 2017 by actress Alyssa Milano. Women have been hidden and discouraged from revealing their past before, and now are stepping forward with horrendous stories of sexual assaults and their perpetrators. With more brave women stepping forward with their stories, people should be tried for their actions.

Sexual harassment is not the victim’s fault, it’s the perpetrator’s fault. It is not a woman’s fault she is harassed sexually based on her clothing, nor is she ‘asking for it’. It is the perpetrators’ actions to press themselves on a victim who doesn’t want it. These victims are being sexually harassed and an end should be in sight.

February is sexual harassment month. This month, men and women bring awareness to this world-wide issue. Sexual harassment happens anywhere at any time. 1 in 3 women has been sexually harassed in the workplace, according to a survey conducted by Cosmopolitan. From the findings of Cosmo, 81% of the harassment was done in verbal context. 75% of the sexual harassers were male coworkers.

The workplace should be a safe and welcoming environment. Protection is offered; The Civil Rights Act of 1964 says a person who is sexually harassed have the legal right to be protected from discrimination in the workplace if your company has 15 or more employees. Reports of sexual harassment should be reported to a supervisor or manager.

These sexual allegations bring new light for 2018 and will continue throughout. The rising of women and their voices are paving their way to safety, and the measures towards blocking these actions against women are committed.