IT IS A PRIVILIGE AN HONOR TO STAND WITH YOU TODAY AND WHAT IS TRULY A CELEBRATION OF LIFE AND ITS TRIUMPH OVER CIRCUMSTANCE. I AM DEEPLY HUMBLED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND WITH WOMEN WHO HAVE RISEN ABOVE THEIR SITUATION TO FREE THEMSELVES FROM A LIFE OF HORROR.  YOUR STORIES ARE THE STORIES OF STRENGTH AND RESLEICNCY AND I AM PROUD TO SHARE THIS MOMENT WITH YOU AND TO PAY HONOR TO SHERRI DENISE JACKSON.

PORTIA INVITED ME TO COME SHARE A FEW WORDS AT THIS FESTIVAL, AND I CAME TO KNOW PORTIA THROUGH A MUTUAL FRIEND WHO KNEW I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO ADVOCATES FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

I WAS KNOCKING ON DOORS AS WE DO IN CAMPAIGNS AND I RAN INTO A LADY NAME GLORIA AND SHE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION FOR SMITH HOMES APARTMENT COMMUNITY. AND I ASKED HER WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM AFFECTING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TODAY- AND SHE SAID IT WAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.  SHE TOLD ME THAT RIGHT AROUND THE 1ST OR WHEN CHECK COME THEY SEE AN INCREASE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BECAUSE THEY ARE BEATING UP THE GIRLS AND TAKING THEIR MONEY.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN OUTRAGE AND SO PORTIA AND I ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE WOMEN HAVE PROTECTION AND THE EDUCATION THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. 

SO LIKE I SAID I AM SO PROUD TO BE HERE.  I WANT TO TAKE A FEW SECONDS AND TALK ABOUT THE STORY. BECAUSE THE REASON YOU GUYS ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL STORY SHARED IN A COMMON PAIN AND A COMMON VICTORY.   SO IT IS INDEED A CELEBRATION OF THE STORY.  AND I CONGRATULATE ALL THE VICTIMS HERE FOR HAVING THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT AND RECLAIM YOUR DIGNITY. IT IS THROUGH THESE STORIES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BECOME CHANGE AGENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY

 WE HAVE MADE PROGRESS OVER THE YEARS SINCE THE 1980’S.  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS DOWN 25% IN THE LAST 10 YEARS , EVERY STATE HAS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW AND TREATS IT AS  A FELONY, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC TO CREATE AN AWARENESS THAT PROVIDES A PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR VICTIMS, AND SAFE HEALTHY PLACE FOR SURVIVORS TO GO. THESE ARE ALL RESULTS OF THE STORIES FROM MEN AND WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND HAVE HAD THE COURAGE TO SAY THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND IT WAS WRONG.

 ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MADE TREMeNDOUS PROGRESS THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO.  STILL TODAY 1 OUT OF EVERY 4 WOMEN WILL BECOME A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DOCUMENTED. YOU AND I BOTH KNOW THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS MORE WOMEN WHO SUFFER THROUGH VERBAL ABUSE AND MENTAL ABUSE THAT GOES UNREPORTED AND UNRECOGNIZED.

NORTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF ONLY EIGHT STATES THAT ALLOWS FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES TO TREAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION AND DENIES WOMEN HEALTHCARE BASED ON THAT ABSURD NOTION. WELL I THINK THIS IS AN OUTRAGE AND AS A REPRESENATIVE I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THERE IS EQUITY AND FAIRNESS IN ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND THAT NO VICTIM SHOULD EVER BE PENALIZED FOR THE ACT OF SOMEONE ELSE.

 I KNOW YOU WONDER HOW THESE THINGS CAN STILL EXIST. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT IS BECAUSE POLITICIANS HAVE A HABIT AT LOOKING AT NUMBERS AND LAWS-- AND MAKING POLICY AROUND DATA. WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR IS THE STORY.

 IF THEY HEARD THE STORY OF TAMEKA  WHO FOR YEARS WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY HER FATHER, AND IF THEY KNEW HER STORY OF HER NOT BEING ABLE TO TRUST, AND HER INABILITY TO ENGAGE SOCIALLY AND HOW THAT AFFECTED HER LIFE.. HOW DO YOU DENY HER ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT?

 IF THEY KNEW THE STORY OF CHELSEA WHO WAS MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS AND HAD A HUSBAND THAT CONSTANTLY BEAT HER, AND ONE DAY BEAT HER TO SHE WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND SHE NEARLY DIED.. IF THEY KNEW HOW CHELSEA HAD TO QUIT HER JOB AND RELOCATE TO FIND A PLACE SAFE FOR HER AND HER TWO CHILDREN, TO SAVE HER LIFE… WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SURVIVAL HERE. …. THERE IS NO WAY THEY COULD DENY HER UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

 YOU SEE GUYS THERE IS POWER IN THE STORY

WE HAVE TO KEEP TELLING THE STORY OF SHERRI DENISE JACKSON

YOU HAVE TO KEEP TELLING YOUR STORY

WE HAVE TO CONTINUTE TO GATHER MORE STORIES

SO TOGETHER WE CAN BE THE AGENTS OF CHANGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SHERRI DENISE JACKSON FOUNDATION AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR STORY!