Detroit Women Need Help Raising $600K To Solve Untested Rape Kits

Detroit Women Need Help Raising $600K To Solve Untested Rape Kits

Imagine having an unprocessed rape kit sitting in some police department for years because the city can’t pay to test it!

Via Detroit Free Press:

A jubilant Kym Worthy, who six years ago stood alone in sounding the alarm about abandoned rape kits found in a police warehouse, wasn’t alone Tuesday. She stood with nearly 100 black women who pledged to raise more than $600,000 to test kits and pay for the ensuing investigations.

It has been a long road for Worthy — from fighting for every dollar to help rape victims to joining a historic gathering in front of the Detroit Association of Women’s Clubs headquarters Tuesday. The panorama of leadership featured some of Detroit’s most powerful women — foundation heads, elected officials, nonprofit managers and CEOs.

This moment in time might be remembered as one of many when Detroiters — in this case women — rose up in self-reliance to solve a critical problem.

The African American 490 Challenge, has asked sororities, nonprofits, community groups, service organizations, book clubs and any other bodies to raise money in multiples of $490 — the cost to test a single rape kit.

“Since we began, it has been difficult, but getting much easier as we amass support,” Worthy said. “Women from all walks of life, suburban and city, have stepped up to help. But I’m particularly pleased by this effort, all these powerful women and the thousands of women they represent.”

Worthy, who called the coalition the largest community response to solving rapes since the kits were discovered, praised the philanthropy of women — and men — across the region now that the rape kits are getting the attention they deserve.

Worthy said her office has 149 active investigations, but 1,644 cases waiting for investigators to be assigned.

“It’s a critical first step for the remaining kits to be tested, but the work is not done until we investigate and prosecute each one of these …,” she said. “That’s why we’re raising money.”

Worthy’s office has had 25 convictions so far. She expects her office will wrap up the rape cases in three to five years.

The Enough Said Campaign is attemping to raisE $10 million of the $25 million Worthy estimates might be needed to investigate cases associated with the tested rape kits, but she stressed that this is just an estimate because investigators are still searching for victims.”

To learn more about the fundraising efforts click HERE.

Twitter/Priya Mann