On a recent Sunday, I walked through Salem dressed as a pink witch, holding a sign that read, “I Am Jane Doe.” To some, it may have looked like a Halloween costume. To me, it was a calling, a declaration of survival, and a mission to raise awareness for domestic violence and sexual assault.
I had a vision, and I felt compelled to follow it. I knew I needed to go to Salem and carry this message, not only for myself, but for the countless survivors whose voices have been silenced by fear, shame, trauma, or circumstances that make speaking out difficult or unsafe.
At 22 years old, I survived a near-death experience after being strangled and suffocated as a result of domestic violence. I am also a survivor of sexual assault. These experiences changed my life, but they did not take away my worth or my right to reclaim my voice.
Survival is not always visible. Behind closed doors, people endure unimaginable pain while trying to navigate a world that does not always understand their experiences. Some survivors are still fighting to be believed. Others are finding the courage to speak for the first time. Many remain anonymous because protecting their identities is essential to their safety.
That is why I chose the words, “I Am Jane Doe.”
Jane Doe represents the people whose names cannot be shared, whose stories remain untold, and whose pain may never make the headlines. It represents the survivor who is afraid to speak, the person who is still healing, and the individual who wonders whether anyone would understand. It also represents me.
Walking through Salem with my sign was my way of reclaiming my voice and power. I wanted to transform what I survived into a message of awareness, hope, and solidarity. I was not there to be defined by what happened to me. I was there to stand for those who may not yet feel able to stand for themselves.
People approached me and asked to take photographs with me and of me. Those moments reminded me that a simple message displayed in a public place can travel farther than we may ever realize. I may never know who saw those photographs or what the words meant to them. Perhaps someone recognized their own story. Perhaps someone thought of a loved one who is struggling in silence. Perhaps a survivor felt, even for a moment, less alone.
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month and ongoing efforts to raise awareness about sexual assault, we must remember that these are not simply statistics or topics discussed for one month each year. They affect real people, families, and communities. Survivors deserve to be heard without judgment, supported without conditions, and respected without having to disclose the details of their trauma.
Speaking out is one way to reclaim a voice, but survivors should never feel pressured to share their stories before they are ready. Everyone deserves the freedom to heal in their own time, with their privacy and safety respected.
For me, the pink witch costume was a way to draw attention, but the sign was the heart of the mission. I wanted people to stop, look, and think about the people behind the words. I wanted to be a voice for those who feel they do not have one, while reminding other survivors that what happened to them does not define who they are.
I went to Salem because I had a vision and felt I needed to follow it. I carried those words because I believe every survivor matters. I am still here. I am a survivor. I am reclaiming my voice and my power.
And if my presence in Salem helped even one person feel seen, encouraged someone to seek support, or reminded a survivor that they are not alone, then my message reached someone who needed it.
“I Am Jane Doe” is a declaration that survivors deserve to be seen, believed, protected, and heard. Our stories matter, our voices matter, and our lives are worth reclaiming.
Amanda MacPherson lives in Connecticut and is a physical therapist assistant, holistic lifestyle coach, and the founder and CEO of Goddess Serenity Retreats LLC.