The subject of sexual assault and abuse took center stage Saturday at the Sexual Violence Awareness March in Yonkers.

The event, which coincided with the end of National Sexual Assault Awareness month, aimed to empower those who have been victimized and protect others who could become potential victims.

Maria Trusa, a sexual abuse survivor, says she's on a mission to raise awareness. She said her father gave her to a friend to be abused by and it changed her life forever.

Truso started the organization, "Yo Digo No Mas," Spanish for "I Say No More," to help anyone who is grappling with the kind of trauma she's suffered and continues to deal with.

Trusa said that at 20 years old, she almost killed her son because of the trauma that she experienced.

Dr. Fenix Arias, one of the march's organizers, said preventing sexual abuse and assault must be an ongoing community effort.

Arias says a child is molested in the United States every nine minutes. He said that they want to educate and empower children to speak up. He emphasized to children that if they are inappropriately touched, that they can speak up.