The annual Walk to Stop the Silence was launched nine years ago in order to break through the silence surrounding the issue of sexual abuse and provide a healing space for survivors. The event is always well-attended, but this year, on April 11, the crowd was noticeably packed with families and young people whose energy led the walk with chants such as, "Walk to Stop the Silence!" and "Sí se puede!" While the topic of childhood sexual abuse is difficult to confront, the tone of the day was one of strength and resilience, and the Watsonville Plaza was filled with brightly colored art displays and over a dozen tabling organizations.

According to Maria Rodriguez-Castillo, who founded the walk, one in five girls and one in seven boys are victims of sexual assault before the age of eighteen. She also noted that 90% of the time, the person committing the assault is someone the child already knows. As part of breaking the silence, Rodriguez-Castillo emphasized the importance of people speaking up if they notice suspicious behavior in their community. Since those victimized are often afraid to speak about their experiences, intervention must be a community-led effort, she relayed to the crowd.

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