Boston Area Rape Crisis Center: BARCC

10/21/2026

There are still seats left for this Friday's comedy show hosted by New Normal Comedy at All She Wrote Books in Somerville. Proceeds directly support BARCC!

Get your tickets here: https://www.allshewrotebooks.com/events-1/respectfully-were-hilarious-a-bookish-barcc-fundraiser

10/20/2026

Massachusetts is closer than ever to ending the civil statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims, but we can’t let this opportunity slip away.

The Massachusetts House has included Amendment 110 in H.5630, a critical step toward ensuring survivors can seek justice without an arbitrary deadline and that the institutions that enabled or concealed abuse can be held accountable. Now, as the bill moves to a House-Senate conference committee, this protection could still be stripped from the final legislation.

Survivors deserve the opportunity to seek justice when they are ready, whether that takes years or decades. Our laws must reflect the reality of childhood sexual abuse, not protect the institutions that have too often escaped accountability.

We need your voice now. Send an already-drafted email to your State Senator and Representative urging them to ensure Amendment 110 remains in the final version of H.5630, without changes. Thank you to for this call to action and for providing these resources.

The link to take action is in our bio.

10/13/2026

Due to forecasted rain tomorrow, the Domestic Violence Vigil has been rescheduled for the rain date: Tuesday, October 20.

The Boston Area R**e Crisis Center (BARCC) will be joining the City of Cambridge for the Domestic Violence Vigil in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Vigil will honor those we have lost to domestic violence this year and bring our community together to raise awareness and take action toward ending domestic violence.

Please join us on Tuesday, October 20, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Cambridge City Hall, located at 795 Massachusetts Avenue.

The Silent Witness Exhibit will also be on display throughout the day as a tribute to those who have lost their lives to domestic violence. The exhibit features life-size silhouettes representing victims, with each display sharing a story and honoring the individual behind it. The exhibit offers an opportunity to reflect on the lives impacted by domestic violence and the importance of continued awareness, support, and action. We invite community members to join us in remembrance and solidarity for survivors.

We thank our partners in the Domestic & Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative at the City, and all of our nonprofit partners for their work to support survivors and create change in our community.

10/09/2026

The Boston Area R**e Crisis Center (BARCC) will be joining the City of Cambridge for the Domestic Violence Vigil in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Vigil will honor those we have lost to domestic violence this year and bring our community together to raise awareness and take action toward ending domestic violence.

Join us on Tuesday, October 13, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Cambridge City Hall, located at 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The rain date is October 20.

The Silent Witness Exhibit will also be on display throughout the day as a tribute to those who have lost their lives to domestic violence. The exhibit features life-size silhouettes representing victims, with each display sharing a story and honoring the individual behind it. The exhibit offers an opportunity to reflect on the lives impacted by domestic violence and the importance of continued awareness, support, and action.

We invite community members to join us in remembrance and solidarity for survivors.

We thank our partners in the Domestic & Gender-Based Violence Prevention Initiative at the City, and all of our nonprofit partners for their work to support survivors and create change in our community.

10/08/2026

Respectfully, We’re Hilarious. A show where low effort tropes are left at the door and r**e jokes will never pass our lips. Instead, join us for a night of witty, warm, and queerly beloved comedy brought to you by our friends at New Normal Comedy, at All She Wrote Books in Somerville, in benefit of BARCC!

Join us on Friday, October 23rd at 7:30 PM for an evening of stand-up comedy featuring a lineup of Boston’s best and nerdiest comics who firmly believe the book is always better than the movie. Expect hilarious takes, bookish riffs, and sharp storytelling during this 90-minute stand-up show. Content will be adult-themed, so viewer discretion is advised.

Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door. Sliding scale and student pricing are available by reaching out to [email protected] for details.

Secure your seats here! https://www.allshewrotebooks.com/events-1/respectfully-were-hilarious-a-bookish-barcc-fundraiser

10/07/2026

Boston Area R**e Crisis Center (BARCC) is proud to join Mass NOW in standing with Jane Doe and all survivors of sexual violence.

Join us for the Cornell Jane Doe Solidarity Rally as we demand action and call for an end to sexual violence. Together, we will raise our voices in support, community, and active solidarity.

Date: TOMORROW! Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Boston Common, Parkman Bandstand

Stand with us and demand change. Show up for survivors and make your voice heard.

10/06/2026

BARCC offices will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, October 6th. We will reopen on Wednesday, October 7th.

Please remember that our support services remain available to you:
📞 24-Hour Hotline: Always available at 800-841-8371
💬 Web Chat: Available from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily at barcc.org/chat

09/30/2026

Survivors hear it again and again: reporting is “the right thing” to do. For many survivors, reporting is the right choice for them, and they deserve systems that honor that choice with speed and trauma-informed care. But when those systems fail, the survivor has not failed.

Healing does not wait for a verdict. It does not require a report, an investigation, or anyone’s permission. It happens on your timeline, in your way, whether or not any formal system ever holds anyone accountable.

Whether you reported, didn’t report, or are still deciding, BARCC is here. We will believe you. We will support you. We will be there for you.

Our 24-hour hotline, counseling, medical and legal advocacy, and case management are free and confidential for survivors ages 12 and up.

We are here.
24-hour hotline: 800-841-8371

09/23/2026

09/23/2026

Last Tuesday, Executive Director, Liz Speakman, and Sr. Director of External Relations, Kara Blue, of the BARCC team traveled to Washington, D.C., standing alongside Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley as she introduced the Violation of Survivors’ Rights Compensation Program Act of 2026.

We are honored to support this legislation, fighting to bring the same essential financial relief and restitution available in Massachusetts to survivors across the entire country.

While counseling, legal advocacy and holistic support are essential components of healing, the severe financial toll of sexual violence is often overlooked. Studies show r**e imposes an average lifetime economic burden of over $160,000 per survivor. Tarana Burke, Co-Founder and Chief Vision Officer of me too, a steadfast leader in this movement, powerfully noted, “That number belongs on every fact sheet of every politician in this country, but it also needs an asterisk, because $164,000 assumes you can afford the therapy, the medical care, the time away from work, and the safe place to live. Most survivors can't.” From medical bills and lost wages to relocation and safety costs, survivors have been forced to pay the price for far too long.

This monumental legislation aims to deliver direct financial relief and establish the Survivors' Rights Restitution Program to compensate victims for their losses and for harm caused when systems fail to protect their rights.

“We know that money is not what heals trauma,” Liz remarks, “but it goes a long way to providing the space, time, and resources to make that path just a little easier.”

Thank you to Boston Globe reporter, Janelle Nanos, for working with BARCC and continuing to spread the news about this bill. Check out the Boston Globe article here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/15/metro/pressley-legislation-compensation-for-epstein-abuse-victims/

Watch the full address here: us.list-manage.com/3EQ8NKTDC4I?e=948fade0e1&c2id=508c06475706df9974ad2197e56e419c

Learn about the bill here: https://pressley.house.gov/2026/09/15/pressley-unveils-first-of-its-kind-bill-to-establish-financial-relief-for-epstein-survivors-survivors-of-sexual-violence/