Launching DVAM, Pledging NO MORE

02 October 2012

Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, RI Congressional Delegation and Community Members Launch Domestic Violence Awareness Month and NO MORE Campaign

DVAM Press Event 2012
Members of the press, domestic violence advocates and community members listen to remarks about Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the NO MORE campaign and the need to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act on October 1, 2012 at the press conference and kick-off event for Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the NO MORE campaign in Rhode Island.

PROVIDENCE, RI - Yesterday, on the first of October, the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) announced the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month by launching its NO MORE campaign at a press conference in the State House.

"RICADV is calling for community involvement to end domestic violence and sexual assault. That is the heart of the NO MORE campaign, which asks everyone the question, 'what will you do?' and stresses intolerance to any kind of abuse," said Deborah DeBare, executive director of RICADV. "Every Rhode Islander has a role in preventing domestic violence."

Through the implementation of the national NO MORE campaign, RICADV intends to educate the community in ways everyone can help—the first step being a resounding pledge to say NO MORE to any kind of intimate partner violence. Yesterday Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman Jim Langevin, Congressman David Cicilline, and Attorney General Peter Kilmartin all shared the work they have been doing in the movement to end domestic violence to an audience that included survivors, advocates and community members. With reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) still pending in Congress, many legislators - including the full RI Congressional Delegation - have been petitioning for Senate-passed language that is more inclusive and offers equal protection to all victims of abuse.

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WHAT OUR POLITICIANS ARE SAYING...

DVAM Press Event 2012

"The Violence Against Women Act is literally a lifeline that protects domestic violence victims. Without critical support from VAWA and organizations like the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence and its member agencies, victims and their kids can remain trapped in abusive situations and the cycle of violence continues. VAWA is effective. It saves lives, families, and taxpayer dollars. It should be renewed so we can build on effective programs like the ones at Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence that are making a real difference in people's lives," said Reed, a member of the Appropriations subcommittee which oversees federal funding for the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women programs.
~ Senator Jack Reed

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"I'm proud to stand with the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence as it launches its NO MORE campaign," said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. "We must work together as a community to raise awareness about domestic violence issues early and often. My SMART Prevention Act, which was included in the Senate's bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, would support increased domestic violence education, mentoring, and services for teens. I'll keep fighting to make sure that bill becomes law, and I thank RICADV for all of its efforts."
~ Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

DVAM Press Event 2012

"Every individual deserves to live free from the fear of intimidation, victimization or retribution," said Congressman Jim Langevin. "So I commend everyone in the community who continues to fight for this freedom in the face of great challenges. Congress can and must act to make this fight a little easier by passing a fair and comprehensive version of the Violence Against Women Act and I will continue to strongly oppose the proposal by House Republicans that weakens protections for victims."
~ Congressman Jim Langevin

DVAM Press Event 2012

"I am pleased to join the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence to highlight such an important issue," said Cicilline. "I am proud to continue fighting for a Violence Against Women Act that includes strong protections and improves protections for populations that have been underserved by domestic violence programs."
~ Congressman David Cicilline

DVAM Press Event 2012

"In 2011, the Office of Attorney General prosecuted nearly 800 domestic violence felonies. Right now, the office is in the first days of the domestic murder trial of Armando Garcia, who brutally killed his girlfriend Brooke Lee Verdoia in her home while her young child was present," said Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin. "While there has been much improvement in law enforcement and the prosecution of domestic violence, the murder of Brooke is a stark reminder of the devastation it causes. I applaud the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence for continuing to shine a light on the issue of domestic violence. Through awareness and education, together we can end domestic violence and sexual assault."
~ Attorney General Peter Kilmartin

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An Alarming Gap

09 April 2012

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by Chris Wilhite

The RI General Assembly is currently considering legislation that would make strangulation a felony domestic assault. In fact 30 other states have already passed this type of law.

If your partner strangles you they are telling you that they hold your life in their hands and have the power to end it. And if you call the police right now in Rhode Island, your abuser will be charged with simple assault, which is a misdemeanor.

Simple assault!

Our Response to Politifact Rhode Island

20 March 2012

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By Deborah DeBare

Note: The following is a letter to the editor of the Providence Journal that we submitted after Politifact Rhode Island issued a ruling of "Half True" on a statement made by Senator Beatrice Lanzi about the prevalence of teen dating violence. To read their ruling, click here.

To the Editor:

We were disappointed to see Politifact Rhode Island’s recent ruling on Senator Beatrice Lanzi’s statement that "One out of four of our young people say they are victims of this (dating) violence."

We take issue with the process that Politifact used to check this claim. The article points to several sources which provide similar statistics on the prevalence of teen dating violence, and notes that those sources define teen dating violence as emotional, verbal or physical abuse. Politifact was able to clarify with Senator Lanzi that she indeed used that definition – the same definition used by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, Politifact then goes on to disregard this definition without providing justification, and rules Senator Lanzi’s statement is “Half True”.

What is in the Best Interest of Our Children?

08 March 2012

Inherent and Civil Parental Law vs. Civil Custody Law

By Renee’ F. Brissette

The natural, Divine, and even governmental laws of parenting have been thrown into a dangerous quandary by the perplexing family court rulings throughout this country that are forcing many to ask, who knows what is in the best interest of our children? As a parent, I strive to love, care for, protect, and teach my children well with the hope that they will become the best person they can be—leading happy, healthy, and productive lives. I think it is safe to say that this is what most parents try to do for their children. These desires and tendencies may stem from an inner maternal/paternal instinct coupled with a moral and spiritual compass.

So, when children are young, to protect them from harm, we teach them how to tie their shoes, to not touch hot stoves, to not talk to strangers, and look before they cross the street. As they get older we teach them lessons of right and wrong, kindness and cooperation, to not hang with the “wrong” crowds, to “say no to drugs,” and to never stay anywhere or go with anyone who they are not safe with. It is not only natural and/or Divine law that leads parents to protect, care, and provide for their children — it is the law of this country.

Yet, parents across the states are being faced with a legal and moral conundrum. While the government laws require parents to care for and protect their children on the one hand, family court systems, in case after case, are ordering them to place their children in harms way. The latest case making news headlines just this past week involves a mother in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina who had to choose to do what she knows is in the best interest of her children, or complying with a court order.

Rihanna & Chris Brown: The buzz as an opportunity

22 February 2012

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By Jessica Walsh

Chris Brown’s recent appearance on the Grammy’s, and the subsequent release of two collaborative tracks featuring Chris Brown and Rihanna, have sparked new conversation about the incident of abuse that happened 3 years ago. We are encouraging everyone to talk to the young people in their lives about the Chris Brown and Rihanna case for two reasons.

To begin with, most young people are aware of the situation and hold a lot of misconceptions about what happened (and about dating violence in general, for that matter). Take this opportunity to make sure they have the facts and aren’t harboring false “reasons” for why the incident occurred or false understandings of the severity of this case and of dating violence in general.

Additionally, teens are at high risk for experiencing dating violence — a staggering 1 in 3 adolescent girls in the U.S. is a victim of abuse by their dating partner. And yet nearly three-quarters of teens indicate that their parents have not talked to them about relationships in the past year.

So if you decide to use these new songs as an opportunity to talk to a young person about dating violence, here are some questions & conversation starters to help you out: