In a new partnership with Memphis Says NO MORE, concert-goers at the 2018 Mempho music festival at Shelby Farms Park Oct. 6 and 7 will be reminded about the meaning of consent and harassment and guided to a “safe tent” should they need help.
Festival organizers reached out to MSNM coordinator Deborah Clubb in May about providing training for staff and security on sexual harassment and organizing counselors, and a safe space to be used by any festival attendees who might need assistance.
Jason Shulman with Mempho had read and heard about harassment and assault of female concert goers at other events around the country and wanted to be pro-active, to assure a good experience for all at the Shelby Farms event.
With special signage around the grounds, counselors from the Shelby County Crime Victims Center/Rape Crisis Center and volunteers from various other partner agencies, MSNM will be present to make Memphis concert goers aware of ways to stay safe and respectful and where to go for aid should something happen.
“We are excited by this new opportunity and new partnership,” Clubb said. “The age demographic of music festival audience is exactly the group we want to reach with awareness about the meaning of consent, about the impact of unwanted touch and the definition of assault and harassment. To be at the event, helping train security personnel and then standing by with professional counselors and support, is just exactly what we want to be doing.”
Clubb and partners with the Memphis Sexual Assault Kit Task Force, which fostered MSNM, hope this outreach leads to additional opportunities to take sexual abuse awareness and prevention into other major music festival events.
