CASA Launches the #CallitWhatitis Campaign for Domestic Violence Awareness Month Urging the Media and Community Members to Call Out Domestic Violence by its Name to put a Spotlight on this Public Health Epidemic
Out of the 11 Domestic Violence Murders in Pinellas County in 2018, Only One News Report Referenced Domestic Violence.
October 1, 2019, St. Petersburg, FL — What if we called domestic violence its name every single time? What if each time there was a murder-suicide, a polarizing dispute, or a mass-shooting involving an intimate partner or family member, we said the words domestic violence? What if the over 17,000 reported cases in the Tampa Bay Area were reported on in the media and the words domestic violence graced the headlines?
According to the us department of justice, the term “domestic violence” includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.
Each time there is a vehicular homicide caused by an intoxicated motorist, our community never shies away from the words “drunk driver.” You see, drunk driving is the cause, and vehicular homicide is the result. When our community talks about the latest murder-suicide, they only reference the result and leave out the cause – domestic violence.
Why it matters:
Words matter and if we don’t name the violence, we’re choosing to ignore it. By ignoring it, we’re silencing the voices of survivors, and what’s even more, we’re missing the opportunity to give out the critical services and resources provided by certified domestic violence centers across the state.
• In 2017, Domestic Violence Cost Pinellas County a minimum of $132 million
• Each day three women are murdered in an act of domestic violence in the U.S.
• There were 6,300 reported domestic violence offenses in Pinellas county in 2018
This domestic violence awareness month, we’re challenging our community to stand up to silence and call it what it is: domestic violence.
Join us on social media by using the hashtags #standuptosilence #callitwhatitis #domesticviolence
About CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse)
CASA is the official domestic violence center for Pinellas County providing lifesaving services to adults, children, and pets.
Our Mission: Challenging the societal acceptance of all forms of domestic violence, CASA stands up to silence through advocacy, prevention, intervention, and support services.
Our Vision: A society free from domestic violence.
www.casa-stpete.org – info@casa-stpete.org – Office & 24 hour domestic violence hotline: 727-895-4912 / TTY: 727-828-1269.