OBSERVER Staff Report
Refusing to be silenced, 25 survivors of childhood sexual abuse joined together at the state Capitol recently to deliver testimony that aided in the withdrawal of Senate Bill 832, which would have put more restrictions on abuse claims.
SB 832 would have required “clear and convincing corroborating evidence” other than a claimant’s testimony. Advocates say the survivors weren’t only speaking for themselves, but were representing “the thousands of other victims who couldn’t be there.”
With support from Herman Law, a national firm dedicated to representing victims of childhood sexual abuse, these survivors became the actual Voices for Victims.
Their written testimony was delivered to the California State Senate Judiciary Committee. This proposal, survivors feared, would have silenced current survivors and future victims, and raised barriers to justice. For many, the hearing was the first time they had publicly shared the trauma they endured.
The survivors, many of whom were formerly in foster care or juvenile institutions, offered raw and emotional testimony that highlighted not only the impact of their abuse, but the resilience it took to come forward. They shared their stories with anonymity as many are still navigating both the emotional weight of coming forward and ongoing legal proceedings.
“Coming forward has taken me from the shadows of my fears and pain to standing up for myself and others who have had no voice,” said one survivor who implored lawmakers to consider the lifelong effects sexual abuse has on a child into adulthood.
“Seeking justice is the only cure for survivors like me and others of this abuse. There is no cause to revictimize me and others again.”
“I’m not just a number. I’m not a victim. I’m a survivor,” wrote another, recalling the ongoing pain. “Our voices are imperative in fixing the cracks in this shattered system.”
Survivors described being abused by teachers, foster parents and institutional caretakers, often without accountability or investigation. Many expressed how retraumatizing it is to be forced to prove their pain repeatedly just to be believed.
One survivor testified, “This bill tells us we have to prove our pain, document our trauma and meet impossible standards just to be believed. That is not justice. That is retraumatization.”
Herman Law, a nationally recognized law firm that represents victims of sexual abuse, helped coordinate the survivors’ written testimonies and delivered them to lawmakers.
Survivors reaffirmed their commitment to creating lasting reform, including better oversight of detention facilities, trauma-informed support for survivors and the elimination of institutional cultures that protect abusers.
“We are grateful we didn’t have to beg for our humanity to be seen. We are thankful our voices were heard,” another survivor said.
“These survivors showed immense courage and vulnerability by attending the Judiciary Committee hearing and submitting testimony to share the truth about what happened to them,” said Jeff Herman, founder and managing partner of Herman Law.
“Our role is to amplify their voices and ensure they are never silenced again, whether in courtrooms, hearings or legislation.”