The SAFE Alliance encourages anyone who is a survivor of sexual violence to seek help. You can call their 24-hour hotline at 512-267-SAFE (7233), text 737-888-7233, or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4573) for help.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Rampant graffiti alluding to sexual abuse appears to be more widespread than KXAN originally knew. Now, one sexual assault survivor is pushing back against a message some are finding harmful instead of healing.

“To be honest, I’m tired of seeing them,” said Malynda, who asked to be identified by their middle name.

A sexual assault survivor, Malynda is upset over rampant graffiti around Austin that says: “even though I was raped, I am OK.” KXAN has now found, or seen evidence of, around 60 separate graffiti messages, written in the same style handwriting, on mailboxes, sides of homes and apartment complexes.

Many of the messages are clustered around West Campus, where Malynda lives.

“Seeing it all day, every day, and know it’s affecting other people the same way it’s affecting me,” Malynda said, “it sucks.”

For Malynda, it hits close to home. After being confronted with the graffiti every day, they stapled flyers to telephone poles protesting the message and begging whoever is behind it to stop.

“You are not empowering victims. You are just reminding people of the worst experience in their lives,” the flyer said. “You are not promoting healing. You show zero compassion and even less awareness.”

Malynda is now organizing a cleanup effort and said at least 15 people have volunteered so far to help paint over the graffiti with supplies donated from another survivor of sexual abuse.

“I had been pretty, pretty good on my healing journey,” Malynda said. “Until this kind of disrupted [that].”

Other messages are now appearing nearby saying, “Rape victims deserve justice.” KXAN found that message written at least eight times on dumpsters, student housing and on one of Malynda’s flyers.

Surveillance video captured one person spray painting the message outside of an Austin bar in January. Malynda said whatever the intent is, the impact is triggering, traumatic and minimizes sexual assault.

University of Texas at Austin student Julian Smith, 19, felt he had to do something after seeing the graffiti tagged all around his off campus housing — and grabbed a paint pen.

“Even if there’s intent in the message to raise awareness [of sexual assault], it’s not a good idea to tag places,” said Smith. “Especially, with triggering messages that may harm people that have gone through the same trauma.”

People like Malynda, who say the messages bring back memories they don’t want to relive.

“Like, I can smell their breath. It’s so sensory,” said Malynda, describing flashbacks sparked by the graffiti. “I had to get off my bike and stop and breathe for a minute…I just felt like I thought I was going to call out of work because I don’t feel OK…it hasn’t been that fresh in a while.”

“I don’t need to be rehashing things that happened a couple years ago like it happened yesterday,” said Malynda.

The Austin Police Department said it is “actively investigating” the incidents. Anyone with information is urged to call Capital Area Crime Stoppers. There is a reward up to $1000.

“I hope that they actually are OK,” said Malynda. “And that they can get help that they need.”