DV: Please, do something

Last week I was unable to obtain a protection order against my husband.

At the moment of the assault, I felt as if he was attempting to break my neck.

He lied under oath, he tried to make me out as the aggressor. He is a foot taller, and outweighs me by 70 pounds. I’ve learned that it would be suicide to approach or touch him when he is angry. I expected him to lie in court, however what I didn’t expect, is how our judicial system turns a blind eye to domestic violence.

His attorney is a talented young woman whose abilities might be better used to protect women from abusers and become a small piece of the equation that could ultimately break the cycle of violence.

The judge noted he hadn’t made any attempts to harm me over the last 140 days. Why is that? Maybe because there was a protection order!

Until we fully recognize the facts surrounding domestic violence, the pattern will continue.

All victims will suffer emotional scars, many victims, physical scars and some will lose their lives.

Each year: 4,774,000 women in the U.S. experience physical violence by a partner. Two million injuries and 1,300 deaths are caused by domestic violence. 10,000,000 children are exposed to domestic violence and they are three to four times more likely to perpetuate partner violence.

Three women are murdered every day by an intimate partner. Physical violence is a repetitive pattern. Eighty-five percent of domestic violence victims are women.

NAME WITHHELD BY PRESS

Hayden