Still Not Asking For It

On Sunday June 9, the Still Not Asking For It (SNAFI) fundraiser took place at tattoo shops around the world. The event lets people get tattoos designed around the theme of preventing and surviving sexual assault. All the proceeds from the tattoos go to local organizations that work to end sexual assault.

Rising Tide Tattoo Emporium in Boulder was one of the participating shops this year. KGNU’s Sarah Dalgleish reports that artists at the shop volunteered their time to give tattoos all day as part of the fundraiser. Phill Bartell owns Rising Tide and explains this isn’t the first time the shop has been involved in an event like this.

“We like to do a lot of outreach programs. As the owner, I always appreciate businesses that give back to the community and we like to build on that.” 

Bartell also mentions the event’s significance to him, saying “I think most of us know someone who has been affected by this or are partnered with someone who has had something happen in their life.”

All of the proceeds from the event went to MESA, Moving to End Sexual Assault. MESA is a nonprofit that works to support victims of sexual assault and to prevent it through education initiatives.

Janine D’Anniballe is the director of MESA. She corroborates Bartell’s point about sexual assault.  “I want people to know that yes, it happens here. Unfortunately we still get about 1,000 calls to the hotline yearly from people who experience sexual assault right here in our community. We know that’s just a very small percentage of how frequently it actually occurs because most people don’t come forward.”

She explains the importance of events like Still Not Asking For It that generate awareness and funding for sexual assault prevention.

“All of us know somebody who has been sexually assaulted—whether we know it or not. This issue is still one that needs our full attention to provide support to people who have experienced it and to work on preventing it from happening in the first place.”

This was the first year Rising Tide participated in Still Not Asking For It, and the event was a success by all accounts; it raised over $6,000 for MESA.

“We are effusive with gratitude towards Rising Tide,” D’Anniballe says. “The event really touched people across the community and MESA is just hugely appreciative. 

To learn more about Rising Tide Tattoo Emporium, visit their website https://tattooboulder.com/.

To learn more about MESA, visit their website https://movingtoendsexualassault.org/. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault and needs support, call MESA’s 24-hour hotline (303) 443-7300.  

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