What You Can Do to Stop Domestic Violence

* Call the POLICE if you hear someone being battered. A timely police response saves lives and reduces possibility of serious injury. Assault is a crime whether the victim is a stranger or a family member.

* Never put the blame on a person who has been battered/abused. Batterers must be held accountable. The survivor is not responsible for the battering, the abuser is 100% responsible. NO ONE EVER DESERVES TO BE ABUSED.

* Be a WITNESS. Your testimony or statement may make the difference in prosecuting batterers.

* Work to INCREASE women’s economic options and to END racism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination and violence. Treat every person with RESPECT and teach your children to do the same.

* THINK about how you get power in your own personal relationships. ALTER those ways if they are not encouraging equality in your relationships. Model egalitarian behavior with your children, friends, and partner.

* LEARN about the scope and dynamics of domestic violence. TALK about the issues with friends. Help BREAK the silence and shame associated with domestic violence. REMEMBER that domestic violence occurs regardless of race, age, religion, class, sexual orientation or education level.

* CONTRIBUTE money and VOLUNTEER your time to programs that work to stop domestic violence or other forms of oppression.

* CONFRONT people who you believe are abusing or battering their partners. (Especially if you know them.) Make sure you are very aware of your and the victim’s safety. If you confront on the behalf of the victim s/he will probably pay dearly for it later. Confront on your own behalf. (I.E. Hey buddy, I don’t think that’s cool.)

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