SNAP plans to create sexual abuse survivors support group in Blair County

PENNSYLVANIA
WJAC

BY LAUREN HENSLEY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9TH 2016

It’s been one day since a sexual abuse victim’s advocacy group held an open forum in Blair County. Now they are making plans to start a permanent support group in the area. SNAP, the Survivor’s Network of those Abused by Priests has been vocally critical about the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, since the release of a gut-wrenching grand jury report.

Tuesday afternoon, supporters of SNAP held a rally on the lawn of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. This mini-protest was meant to inspire people to attend their open forum that was held Tuesday night.

“It was heartwarming to see that people feel like there was a place they could go,” said Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest associate director.

Jones said nearly a dozen people showed up to the forum. SNAP respectfully requested that no media be present to allow a safe space for any potential victims to come forward. And they did. Later, 6News spoke with one survivor who said he was abused all throughout high school.

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