Erin Merryn; The Woman Who Refused to be Silenced rin Merryn was just 6 years old when her Erin has appeared on Oprah, Montel Williams, The Einnocence was stolen. Today Show, the Show, and many other programs. Her story has First, from ages 6 to 9, then from ages 11 to 13, two also been covered in Time, USA Today, People and men, one a neighbor and the other a family member, other national publications, including being named repeatedly molested and raped her. Threatened into one of Glamour Magazine’s Women of the Year in silence by her abusers, she told no one. She spent 2012. She is now an author, speaker and activist night after night crying into her pillow and having who has taken her message worldwide. nightmares, her secrets locked away in a childhood diary. To date, eight states have passed Erin’s Law, including Missouri, and the law is pending in 14 others. With Then, as a high school senior, she courageously a person so determined and articulate, it’s not a turned that childhood diary into her first book, question of whether, but when, Erin will succeed in “Stolen Innocence.” She hasn’t been silent since. passing the law in all 50 states. That is the power of a woman who can’t be silenced. Erin took on a mission to take the stigma and shame off of sexual abuse survivors and empower them to Hers is a story, and a message, you won’t want to speak out. So she created Erin’s Law. miss. You can hear it for yourself at MOCSA’s Community Luncheon on Friday, May 2, 2014. The purpose of Erin’s Law is to get sexual abuse prevention education in schools in all 50 states, and to stop sex offenders from silencing their victims. Erin wants children to be educated about sexual abuse prevention just like they are educated about fire drills and tornado drills. She advocates age- appropriate education for kids from pre-k through MOCSA Community Luncheon 12th grade about safe and unsafe touches, safe and Friday, May 2nd, 2014 unsafe secrets, how to get away and how to tell 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. somebody. Muehlebach Hotel