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October 28 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
We are nearing the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and you must be exhausted. The
sheer volume of email we received on your activities is breathtaking. You are all
wonderful and to be loudly applauded. You brought the voices of the Silent Witnesses out
to the community. The families of victims were involved. Communities turned out to support
us. And healing occurred. Bless you, all of you angels. Just gloat as you read all the
activity in this newsletter.
WELCOME NEW EMAIL CORRESPONDENTS:
Christina Walsh (National Training Center on DV and SV, Texas), Melanie Martin (Rhode
Island SW Activist), Tasha Amador (Statewide Cal. Coalition for Battered Women), Barbara
Soares (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil), Gyorgyi Toth (Silent Witness Coordinator, Budapest,
Hungary).
STATES ON BOARD FOR OCTOBER EVENTS:39 States so far.
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington State, Wyoming, Washington DC.
ATTENTION:These are the states that we have not heard from where we think there
are active exhibits. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT ACTIVITIES THE WITNESSES WERE INVOLVED IN, IN
THE STATES LISTED BELOW.
Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia.
NEWS FROM THE STATES/COUNTRIES:
ARIZONA:
We got a wonderful phone call from John Peterson, our co-coordinator in Arizona who is in
the middle of his chemotherapy. While unable to sponsor a Silent Witness event this year
himself, he was eager that some other group take it on. He turned on his TV the other
night and there were the Silent Witnesses at the University of Arizona in Tucson, proud
and marching. The NOW chapter in Tucson had taken it upon themselves to get the Witnesses
out there. John is generally in good spirits but this cheered him up immensely, as you can
imagine.
* Go NOW. That is wonderful collaboration. We love it.
CALIFORNIA:
A Forwarded note about legislative activity in Cal, written by Nancy Lemon:
I am pleased to report that so far the Ca. Governor, Gray Davis, has signed 2 of the bills
which the Ca. Alliance Against DV initiated and gave top priority status to this year.
One is SB 56 (Solis), which will take effect 1/1/00 and says that victims of dv can take
time off work to go to court without being retaliated against by their employers.
The other one is AB 840 (Kuehl), which will also take effect 1/1/00. It creates a
rebuttable presumption against custody to batterers, similar to legislation in 14 other
jurisdictions. It contains a list of factors the court has to consider in determining if
the batterer has rebutted (overcome) the presumption, including attending a certified
batterer's treatment counseling program, getting alcohol and/or drug abuse counseling if
appropriate, going to parenting classes, complying with restraining orders and with
probation or parole conditions if these were ordered, and not being violent to anyone for
the recent period of time. For more info, contact me at nlemon@socrates.berkeley.edu or Syrus.Devers@asm.ca.gov , the aide who worked on
the bill with me for 5 years.
*We're very pleased to hear about the success of this legislation. Thanks.
CONNECTICUT:
Jan Fuhr, of the collaboration in CT writes:
The Oct 8th DV educational conference went well. We had approximately 75 people attend.
Most of them were caregivers but some were lay people who just wanted to learn more and
get involved. Of course, the Witnesses were there and since it was held in the student
union of the Western CT University, many students also viewed them. All in all, it was a
great success and I think it made a positive inpact on how future victims receive care.
*Great work Connecticut. We love to hear from you.
FLORIDA:
Betty Weinkle writes this from the Miami NCJW:
Tomorrow is the "Woman of Valor" luncheon in Miami, honoring women in the
community who work for the rights of children. This is our second annual, and honors Cindy
Lederman, a Chief Administrative Judge of the Dependency Court, and Berta
Bleck, a
longtime advocate for children's rights, and a founder of a center for child victims of
abuse.The witnesses will be prominently displayed.
We had new witnesses built of the PVC material and they are wonderful! We chose to have 2
children represented, and the boy and girl sized silent witnesses are so largely powerful.
We donated our original wooden witnesses to Stephanie Lighter and the NCJW Boca Raton
section.
Next week our witnesses travel to Orlando to be present at the Women in Opthamology
conference with 50,000 people expected.
*Miami is on the move. Thanks for donating those wooden witnesses. It multiplies the
opportunities for people to be touched and healed.
AND we heard from Randee H. Lefkow, International President, Jewish Women International
(Also in FL):
Just a note to let you know:Jewish Women International is working with Jewish Family
Service to bring the issues of Domestic Abuse to the forefront of the Jewish community in
Broward County, Florida (and around the country again this year as part of JWI's Light A
Fire-Share a Vision program.)
A new coalition - Kolot of Broward (kolot means Voices) is holding its first
event..Tueday, Oct. 19th 5:30 PM at the Posnack Jewish Community Center. Women in Distress
is providing their Silent Witnesses (6). I'll use your latest update to inform those who
attend about the Silent Witness program and its importance.
The event will include community statements, healing music, a candlelighting and a silent
prayer for Rabbi Julie Spitzer, a brave woman who nationally led the Jewish community to
address DV issues. She died 2 weeks ago at age 41 of ovarian cancer. We'll also have a
resource table of materials, and refreshments.
There are also events in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach county on the same day with Jewish
coalitions in each location. Thanks for all you do on behalf of the movement to end
domestic violence.
*Way to go, Randee and COmpany. There is so much activity going on it is staggering.
Thanks for your involvement.
AND we heard from Geri Hayes in Sarasota:
Additional SW activities: The witnesses were present at the 10/08 meeting of our local
Zonta International chapter, and then at AAUW. They are back for a second week at a county
administration building (10/18-10/22) and then will be at the annual educational symposium
sponsored by our local shelter, SPARCC (Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center) and held at
Sarasota Memorial Hospital on 10/23. They are tentatively scheduled to spend two weeks at
the another county building located in the southern region of our county.
Three of the Coalition organizations (AAUW, Zonta Int'l. and NCJW) have all approved
donations of $100 each to assist us in procuring additional figures. Other Coalition
member organizations include League of Women Voters, Grey Panthers and N.O.W.
And on a personal note, the circuit judge that I work with, Nancy Donnallan, submitted my
name for consideration for an annual award given by the Sarasota County Bar Association.
On 09/16, Nancy and my husband colluded to get me to the annual dinner, where I was the
recipient of the Distinguished Service Award By A Lay Person. Although a rather
uncomfortable moment, I was grateful for the exposure it provided our Task Force and the
Coalition.
*Great work Geri and Friends, and congratulations on the wonderful award. It is so nice to
see so many of you being recognized by your communities. Go for it.
HUNGARY:
Remember in last summer's newsletter Jan Fuhr, our CT contact went to Hungary and stumbled
upon the Silent Witnesses while she was there. Well, we have tracked down the organization
and here's a note about their organization. We're hoping to be in contact with them
regularly now. How exciting!!! The name of the organizer is Gyorgyi Toth and her
organization is called NANE.
My organisation is NANE in Budapest Hungary. It is a women's rights organisation with a
special emphasis on violence against women and girls. Our main project this year will
build on last years: we have our own Silent Witness project with 16 red silhouettes of
women and children who were murdered by partner or father, carrying the stories of their
lives and deaths on their chests. We will take the exhibition to various public and
publicly-accessible private places.
During the exhibitions, one or more volunteers will be available for questions and to give
out leaflets on violence against women. On the first day of the 16 days, the exhibition
will start with a press conference. There we will give general info as well as announce
our upcoming press campaign against domestic violence.
*This international connection is so exciting. Let's see how many other countries we can
partner with on this healing venture. Thanks for all your hard work, Hungary. We admire
you.
IDAHO:
Celia Heady, our Silent Witness coordiantor in Idaho writes:
Idaho has 4 sets of Silent Witness figures in the state. The fourth, and new set was built
in Blackfoot, ID by the Bingham Crisis Center. Blackfoot built Silent Witness figures for
the women victims in 1997 as well as the 1998 ones. Programs throughout the state have
been active with Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities. The Idaho Council on
Domestic Violence will be sponsoring several domestic violence bills in our legislature
which convenes in January. Standards for batterer treatment programs have been updated and
standards for domestic violence programs and personnel have been developed.
*Thanks for this great work, Celia and friends. We are excited to have four exhibits in
your state and lots of activity.
INDIANA:
Jimita Potter is our Silent Witness contact in Indiana South Bend. She says:
The Silent Witness Group has been traveling through the state for the past couple of
months. It was down in Indianapolis for two events. The first event was the Indiana
Medical Association State Convention. The main speaker was Nicole Brown's sister.
According to Debbie Licini who accompanied the exhibit to Indy the event was very moving
and "Our Ladies" received a great deal of attention. The second event followed a
couple weeks later. The exhibit was at a meeting of the statewide Coalition Against
Domestic Violence. Some of "Our Ladies" will be part of a domestic violence
program in St. Joseph County next week. The "Ladies" will be traveling to lower
Michigan for an event in the Niles, Michigan area in November.We are proud of our exhibit
and we are glad that it is still traveling after 5 years.
*And Jimita, we are all proud of you for keeping the candles of hope burning in Indiana
with the Silent Witnesses. They certainly are "our ladies."
MAINE:
A report from Susan Fuller, our whirlwind in Maine: (Very powerful story about the nurses
at Mercy hospital)
The Maine Silent Witness Project has been ongoing since 1995. We updated the exhibit last
year to add Witnesses since 1995. We had a very successful statewide tour, as wide as you
can get in Maine. This year we are focussing on one area of the state and answering all
other requests for the exhibit. Because the exhibit has grown from 6 silhouettes in 1995
to 18 in 1998 to even more in 1999 we will be able to split the exhibit up and have it
appear in many locations at once.
We had a very generous donation of 6 currogated plastic posters that essentially have the
SW logo and say that the project is a memorial to the women killed in acts of domestic
violence in Maine. This way at a glance an onlooker will be able to get the gist of the
project and have several means that each location will have the same sign.
1) Mercy Hospital in Portland: Hers's a powerful story from a DV advocate at the hospital.
During a recent educational meeting on DV for nurses at the hospital, I was asked to bring
one of the Witnesses for the meeting. After the meeting, 2 of the nurses present were
crying in the corner. They shared that one of the Witnesses in the Maine exhibit had been
a nurse at that very hospital--that one of the Witnesses was "one of them". I
did not know this when I brought the figure to the meeting. This has lead to increased
commitment at the hospital, including that of the CEO, to SW and how they manage DV at the
hospital.
2) The Maine Mall in Portland: The Sheriff's Dept. Honor Guard will stand watch over the
Witnesses at this highly visible public venue.The Maine Mall, for the second year in a row
is having the exhibit on October 20th in conjuction with the YWCA's Week Without
Violence". The Mall has had their own campaign with signs up in all the stalls in the
bathrooms, bumpersticker type signs on every glass door entering the mall right at hand
level. Very visible, very brave and very community minded. Remember the Silent Witnesses
do not necessarilly create an atmosphere which encourages shopping. I am proud of what the
Mall is doing. I believe the same company owns the mall in Rochester, New Hampshire and
they have done a similar campaign.
There is much traffic for this outlet and the Mall owners have been very supportive and
committed to DV awareness as a company. One question I would like some advice on: When the
Witnesses are used in a public forum like this, without a workshop/meeting setting, how do
we try to instil a message of hope rather than despair to those that see the exhibit? It
is challenging to do this in a "walk by" environment...
3) Other venues: Ongoing part of law enforcement training, Univ. of New England Medical
College training, USM Law School, part of the Tri-County walk in Lewiston. The exhibit
will be in local hospitals and one county has requested all the witnesses from their area
for the entire month of October and has planned various appearances.
*And I got this news from a reliable source: Susan is receiving an award this month for
her work and commitment to the project from the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence!
Congratulations Susan and everyone in Maine who works on this project. You have done a
fabulous job.
MARYLAND:
A message passed along to us, sponsored by Sharon Stout of Community Well Research and
Evaluation, Inc. in Silver Spring:
The state of Maryland, USA is now requiring 60,000 state employees to attend seminars on
the impact of domestic violence on workplace productivity. The governor, Parris
Glendening, signed an executive order requiring the training. It may be the first of its
kind among state governments. (If anyone knows of other states doing this, please let me
know.)
The order is a response to data on the impact of domestic violence on the workplace
(including Bureau of National Affairs estimates that employers lose about $5 billion each
year because of absenteeism, increased health care costs, and reduced productivity--and a
private survey from 1992 that found between 25-35% of battered women reported that they
had lost a job in large part because they were victims of domestic violence). For more
info contact Sharon at commwell@igc.org
*Thanks for this update. When we haer about this great effort, we all feel more committed
and energetic.
AND this note from Pat Lupson, a mother of one of the Silent Witnesses and strong SW
supporter in MD:
Spoke last week before the Capitol building for the National Task Force Against Domestic
Violence. They had the clothes line project on display - they marched it around the
Capitol - very powerful. I told my kid's story, a surviving victim of DV spoke, and some
congressional women spoke (Connie Morella) along with Sheila Wellstone.
*Keep on speaking out Pat. More power to you.
MICHIGAN:
Nancy Mooney, our SW Coordinator at the JR. League in Ann Arbor writes:
Things in Michigan have been very busy! We had Monday, 10/18 declared in the City of Ann
Arbor, Washtenaw County and the State of Michigan Silent Witness Day in memory of the
women whose lives were ended violently at the hands of a boyfriend, husband or
acquaintance. We received all our proclamations early in the Month.
At our Junior League Meeting we had a short vigil to honor the 31 women who were killed
last year. We we lit candles as I read some of the stories of our sisters who fell last
year. Because we felt our witnesses would be a better educational tool outside of our
league meeting, we represented all of our Michigan women on paper. At each place setting
we had on a piece of red paper of the stories of our sisters in the league. We wanted
their stories to be closer to our members. We also passed out our buttons from the SW
Initiative. We had buttons on 170 members last Tuesday. We also have received a great deal
of feed back from our membership that they want to know more. Many have worn their buttons
to the grocery and church and had people ask questions. Our goal was to get our league
emotionally committed once again, and we succeeded.
Our SW's have traveled all over the state. We have publicized the exhibits and locations
in our newspaper ads. All exhibits so far have been well attended. I had six extra
witnesses last week sitting in my garage, so I quickly drove them to the shelter in my
town and they were able to use them at their vigil last Tuesday. We have our video running
on public access tv all through the month, I think it runs 20 times during the month of
October.
We now have a total of 33 SW!! Six are permanently housed in the Grand Rapids, MI., YWCA
Women's Center. They will be helping us exhibit on the west side of the state. In the next
week and a half, we will be sending out a letter with a picture of the SW Exhibit to all
businesses in our county. We are hoping to get more corporate support and become more
visible in the corporate environment. Last year two women were killed in the parking lots
of their employer. We are anxious to move forward!
As you can tell, we've been busy. We have alot of enthusiasm and excitement in our goal to
end domestic violence.
*Yes, you certainly do have enthusiasm. And the place settings of names of Witnesses is
powerful too. Thanks for all this work. And it is great to know that there are two
locations for SW in Michigan now.
MISSISSIPPI:
Pat Davenport, our SW mentor for the program "Preparing our Sons for Manhood" in
Greenville, MS writes:
We had over 26 presentations (to schools, churches and social services agencies) to
conduct in Greenville, MS for the month of October. We are co-sponsoring a silent march on
October 26, 1999. Our Mayor signed a proclamation for the month. Also, our police
department has declared October 26, 1999 - a day of arrest. The entire department will
concentrate on arresting all delinquent cases of domestic violence. We also will be having
a ceremony on the steps of city hall on October 26,1999.
On September 24, 1999, to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness month, we had over 1,400
juniors and seniors high school students from 16 different schools in the MS Delta to meet
and have a youth rally - entitled, "Daring to be Different - Soaring with the
Eagles." The rally was a success on teaching them to become responsible for their
actions and to end the violence in the home.
P.S. The State Wide Coalition is setting off purple balloons for the month of October. We
are also releasing balloons with our crisis telephone numbers inside of them. The
Salvation Army Catherine Booth Center is sponsoring this event. Three agencies within the
state are hosting marches this week.
*Wow, Mississippi is really hopping. More power to you all. Keep us posted.
NORTH CAROLINA:
Donna Pygott, our hearty soul and mother of the Silent Witnesses in NC writes:
I also wanted to tell you about the NC March. We titled it the "Silent Witness
March... Gone But Not Forgotten." We began the March with 38 silhouettes at the Wake
County Courthouse in Raleigh and marched them to the State Capitol three blocks away. The
Raleigh Police Departments Domestic Violence Unit stopped traffic for us to cross three
streets. Once we reached the Capitol we marched around it and came to a rest on the West
side for a special program. We heard from survivors on how domestic violence affected them
and their families, as well as, how to move forward and survive.
It was a powerful program. Unfortunately, due to the hurricane season we've had, the
attendance was a lot lower than we expected but still have at least 100 people. Hurricane
Irene hit the day before the March. I prayed that we would have good weather on the 18th
and when I woke up it was a beautiful sunny day. Thank God! We had press coverage from
every TV Station and the Associated Press.
In addition to the March, the Silent Witnesses have travelled state wide every week. We
split the set up into groups of nine so that three different counties can use them in one
week. They have visited 11 counties (26 different locations, 50 appearances) so far and
keep going on into December. The word is out there!! The Greensboro Junior League had
their own set of 20 silhouettes made and are trying to get those active as well. We have
four sets of silhouettes statewide now. NC is making strides to keep moving forward in our
task to end domestic violence homicides.
Some of the women that really worked hard on the Silent Witness March need recognition.
Allison Isaak from the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services in Wilmington is a real go
getter and full of energy. She is really special! Marie French from Interact in Raleigh
was a big help with media and advertising. Fannie Montague with the Raleigh Police
Department was a great big help getting city permits and the streets blocked for us to
march across.
Other folks that made a difference and worked hard were, Amy Hasick, Harbor, Smithfield;
Patty Dorian, ED, NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Susan Borgesi, Orange/Durham
Coalition for Battered Women; NC Council for Women; Ernstein Moore, Triangle Family
Services, Raleigh; Chief Johnny Massey,State Capitol Police, Raleigh; Marianne
Wellon,
Wake County District Attorney's Office; and Lori Sullivan, NC Victim Assistance Network.
*Now this is dedication, having a SW event the day after a hurricane hit. It's amazing to
me what you all are capable of doing. And I think you get the award for the second year
for a state with the most exhibit appearances in October. There is nothing that can stop
you!!!
PENNSYLVANIA:
One of our regional directors spoke with Laurie Duchateau of the Jr. League of Pittsburgh
and Susan Tanzer of the NCJW and got this update in more detail about the Silent Witnesses
in Western PA: (Susan is passing along her role now to Mahnaz Harrison).
She said that September was a busy time for the Witnesses: They were at the Women's Center
Shelter, Highmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield (more on them later), Carlo College, and the
National Jr. League Conference in Pittsburgh.
As we heard earlier, the figures appeared at a press conference this month where State
Rep. Jane Orie discussed her commitment to making changes in DV and Medical Advocacy as
part of National Screening Day. Orie works to make the important hard-line argument about
the cost of DV and the responsibility and involvement of the medical community. The
Witnesses will also appear at the YWCA in McKeysport.
In November, the Witnesses will get a much needed rest where they will be touched up with
paint, breast plates re-affixed, and broken stands mended.They have 19 figures currently
(from 1994-96) and are researching cases to add figures for 1997-99.
One great story that Laurie did share was that they have gotten support from a local high
school shop class teacher, who happens to be a nun, who would like to assign the
construction of the Witnesses to her class. They plan on having the new figures ready in
Feb/March of 2000. (Great way to get younger folks involved in SW!)
One of the most exciting things that Laurie shared was that they were the recipients of a
$5,000 grant from Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in order to maintain and create new
figures. Highmark has become very concerned about the issue and and have implemented a
public awareness campaign around the issue. They did a week-long kick-off for this
campaign where the Witnesses were present. They are concerned about the cost of DV to
insurers.
I spoke with Susan Tanzer of the NCJW in Pittsburgh as well. Susan did tell me that they
have plans to make 24-25 more witnesses. The strength and impact of their efforts lies in
the figures. They are currently devising a stronger strategy of more community outreach.
One visitor was so moved that he offered to make a video about the figures.
*So exciting to hear about this dedication to the Silent Witnesses and the fine
collaboration between the JR League and NCJW in Pittsburgh.
AND from Carlisle, PA, Deborah Donahue reports a wonderful visual image:
Carlisle, PA (Deborah Donahue and Cecile) reports that they are wrapping the old Carlisle
Court House in a purple ribbon and doing a ribbon "Cutting" sumbolizing breaking
the cycle of violence in their community and the commitment of city officials to help in
doing so. They will have a public proclamation of Oct. as DV awareness month. The
Witnesses were at the event on the court house stairs as the back-drop. It was a great
community effort.
*Wow, PA is on the move. We love to hear these creative new ideas. Keep them coming.
RHODE ISLAND:
Yet another wonderful update from Nancy Rafi of our RI Collaboration:
Well, RI had their big event on Saturday, Oct 16th in Providence. We had a total of 10
Witnesses who entered the Cathedral of St. John, led by bagpipers to the front stage. We
had an opening spiritual reading, followed by the Silent Witness stories, the Executive
Director of the Women's Center in Providence, a survivor of domestic violence who belongs
to Sisters Overcoming Abusive Relationships (SOAR), then a guitartist and soloist singing
while people lit candles in memory of those no longer here, followed by a woman from the
RI Victim's Assistance & Support Center, who talked about domestic violence murders
and their aftermaths.
After all the speakers, everyone walked outside into the crisp bright Autumn air, and we
were led by a mounted Providence Police officer, who was followed by a hearse, then our
bagpipers, 2 people carrying our "March to End the Silence" banner, our
Witnesses, and everyone else falling in behind. We marched from the Cathedral to the steps
of our statehouse, and literally heard people asking - "Wow - who died?". At the
Capitol, we read the names of each Silent Witness for the past 10 years, and said a
closing prayer, then invited everyone back to the Cathedral for light refreshments. All 3
of RI's TV stations were there, and we got coverage on every channel.
I have to tell you the most personally impactful event for me that day. One of our new
Witness's families came to the march - her mother, father, 2 aunts, 2 sisters, 2 nieces,
and 2 of her 3 surviving children. When we asked everyone to come forward to escort the
Witnesses outside, Kelli's father jumped up from his seat, just to make sure that he would
be able to carry her Witness. Her entire family followed behind him, and it made me feel
as if he was able to wrap his arms around his daughter one more time. When everyone was
saying their goodbyes at the Cathedral, each and every member of Kelli's family came up to
me and hugged and kissed me. Her mom gave me a big hug and kiss, and whispered in my ear
"Thank you so much for this day. We love you for what you're doing." What an
unforgettable day for me! That memory will stay with me forever.
We are continuing on with our efforts and are being seen at several more places in
October. Also in November, we will be doing a "community ceremony" to present
another new Witness in Warwick of a 17 year-old who was murdered in 1995. Her mother has
asked to sponsor her Witness and we are starting to work with the community to put this
together.
*These are such powerful stories. The healing is amazing, in all who are associated with
Silent Witness.
NEWS FROM NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS:
SILENT WITNESS INTERNATIONAL!!!!:
Recently we have connected with several women around the world who are interested in
Silent Witness or already coordinating exhibits. These women are Akiko Kobayashi (Japan),
Gyorgyi Toth (Hungary-has an active exhibit), Barbara Soares (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil),
Agata Zakrzewska (Poland), Didi Walson-Jack (Nigeria). This is so exciting, to see this
healing work moving beyond national boundaries. We have much to learn from each other.
Let's keep this moving.
16 DAYS AGAINST VIOLENCE: IF ANY OF OUR SW ACTIVISTS WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THIS EVENT,
PLEASE LET THEM KNOW DIRECTLY AND ALSO EMAIL SW HEADQUARTERS.
This description is from Francesca Pesce cossta@flashnet.it
Moderators' Note: We encourage members that are organizing activities around the worldwide
16 Days Against Gender Violence campaign to submit them to the Working Group. We intend to
compile an overview of global activities and will distribute this via the list and other
fora.
In Rome our Association (Differenza Donna) is organising a press conference for November
25th presenting the International Day against VAW and a conference which we are holding 4
days later. This is also because no-one in Italy seems to be aware of this day.
We would also like to present a resume' of activities held on the same day throughout the
world (to give more the sense of an "international" day and fight). Last year
this working group proved a great opportunity to exchange concrete examples of what was
going on. Would it be possible to know what other women organisations, NGOs, associations,
etc. are organising for November 25th?
A NOTE FOR SILENT WITNESS COORDINATORS: This is a brief explanation of the 16 Days of
Activism against Gender Violence:
Currently, organizations throughout the world are preparing for the "16 Days of
Activism against Gender Violence", a global campaign between November 25 (the
commemoration of the murder of the Mirabal sisters by the Trujillo dictatorship in the
Dominican Republic in 1960) and December 10 (International Human Rights Day). This
campaign links violence against women with human rights.
A GRAND THANK YOU TO BARB AND NANCY!! AND RETIRING SILENT WITNESS COORDINATORS
Barb Zipperman and Nancy Housenga, our faithful secretarial service and mailers are
retiring and will have to say good bye to Silent Witness. We are so grateful for the fine
work they have done. Without them this organization would be in chaos. So Thank You both
for the great work. We love you and wish you the best.
We also would like to thank Aggie Nagy who is turning over the SW exhibit of Cleveland to
Julie Steck and thanks too, to Betty Weinkle from Florida who is turning over her SW work
to Linda Slade, and to Susan Tanzer of Pittsburgh who is turning over her role to Mahnaz
Harrison. You are all wonderful and very dedicated. We hope to find other things for you
to do!!
I leave you today with a poem that was read at the rally and march in North Carolina.
(Courtesy of Donna Pygott)
Silence might be the privilege of the strong, but it was certainly a danger to the weak.
For the things I was prompted to keep silent about were nearly always the things I was
ashamed of, which would have been far better aired.
Joanna Field
Cheers,
Janet