Week Without Violence continues with statehouse stand KTKA com3

http://www.ktka.com/news/2010/oct/22/week-without-violence-continues-statehou...

Hundreds gathered at the State House this afternoon to voice one common message: 'stop the violence.'

It was all part of the 16th annual YWCA's 'Week Without Violence.'

Today they held a march where victims, leaders, law enforcement and citizens walked together to take a stand against domestic violence.

"I'm a survivor of domestic violence, and it was a quite brutal, brutal account. I lost everything, except for my life," says Claudine Dombrowski.

Claudine Dombrowski was one of hundreds of Topeka citizens who gathered at the State Capital Friday afternoon for the YWCA's March Against Violence.

"You don't have to accept violence. That's not the way relationships should be," says Deborah Rose of the YWCA.

That's the message being sent to the community... a message some kids wish their mother's had heard a little earlier.

In just the last year, more than a thousand calls have been made to the local YWCA hotline.

It's a problem Kansas Attorney General Steve Six says is getting worse.

"The economy is tough and that means stress in the homes is up and that can increase domestic violence. And it's a tough economy which means resources are down on to the shelters," says Six.

As a survivor, Dombrowski says it's important for victims to know that there is a place to turn to for help.

"Listen to your red flag. Listen to that little thing that god put in your heart that red flag that says something's just not right. Don't blow it off. Listen to that red flag. Reach out to somebody and talk to them."

This year the A.G. is prosecuting a record high number of domestic homicides.

For those seeking help, call the toll-free 24-hour helpline at 1-888-822-2983 or visit the YWCA website here.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Claudine Dombrowski
• Domestic Violence
• YWCA March
• Human Rights
• No Justice For Victims
• Topeka
• KS

[mamasuntwinkle]

I am getting so tired of hearing these "organizational messages". The orgainzations are doing nothing to fight the custody issue (the main reason women stay) nor to make sure the VAWA is enforced (the civil statute portion was declared unconstitutional by the corp USSC, yet men can continue to use it! Like custody courts, GALs, CPS + the remaining financially tangled web of corruption, DV orgainiztions are profitting from it. Do we want to stop DV or just band-aid it for profit? JMHO