Harassment is a problem in the Missoula county bar-scene. Earlier this year, Make Your Move! released the results of a community-wide survey which found that 84 percent of bar-goers in Missoula experienced verbal harassment or a physical altercation at least once in 2016. The most common experience of aggressive behaviors were unwanted sexual touch (65 percent), sexist comments (69 percent) and being followed to the next destination (37 percent).
To combat this issue, Make Your Move!, a Missoula-based coalition that promotes the prevention of sexual violence, has been providing training to local bars throughout the county.
“[While focused in Missoula] This program is available county-wide,” wrote Brenna Merrill, Missoula City-County Relationship Violence Services Outreach Specialist. “Sexual harassment can happen anywhere - even in smaller towns.”
Most recently, VFW staff completed a sexual violence prevention training hosted by Merrill and Kelly McGuire of Missoula City-County Relationship Violence Services.
“We are creating a venue in Missoula where everyone is welcome and everyone feels safe,” said Tanner Court, Ole Beck VFW Post 209 manager.
Make Your Move! bar workshops are available free of charge to any alcohol-serving establishment within Missoula County. Interested businesses should contact Brenna Merrill at 406-258-3838. More information can be found on their website, http://www.makeyourmovemissoula.org/ or find Make Your Move Missoula on Facebook.
“This is great training for any bar owner or bartender who wants to provide a safer environment for their patrons,” Crime Prevention Officer at the Missoula Police Department Ethan Smith said. “It really helps make people more aware of the signs of harassment or relationship violence that often start in a bar. Raising awareness of these issues helps keep customers safe and gives staff more confidence to intervene on someone’s behalf.”
Smith is also involved in bar workshops to share best practices and tips with bartenders, including how to conserve evidence when a drink may have been tampered with.
Established in 2012, Make Your Move! is a campaign that promotes sexual violence prevention through social marketing and workshops. Partner agencies include Missoula City-County Relationship Violence Services, YWCA Missoula, the University of Montana Student Advocacy Resource Center, and the Missoula Children and Youth. Bar Workshops were made possible by funding through Raliance: Ending Sexual Violence in One Generation and supported by the Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
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