Case sheds light on domestic violence

As an advocate for survivors of domestic violence, I have a history of working with local media to shed light on the impact of this violence on our communities. Thus, I was appalled to learn that the media seemingly withheld important information from the general public. When announcing his candidacy, Scott Lee Cohen, the newly elected Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, shared information regarding his 2005 arrest on domestic battery charges.

Why is it that only after the primary elections we are learning about Cohen's background? If our local media finds it important to report on domestic violence happening in our community, why not adhere to the same commitment to report on the alleged abuse perpetrated by someone that is running for a political office? Is domestic violence suddenly not an important issue in this case? Is it viewed as negligible as a backlog of parking tickets?

Let's set the record straight, domestic violence knows no boundaries and continues to be a pervasive epidemic in our society. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in four women in the United States reports experiencing violence by a current or former spouse or boyfriend at some point in her life. Whether it is happening in the lives of our celebrities, political leaders, or the neighbor you see everyday, domestic violence will not cease until we, as a community of people, take a stand against this behavior. When you see domestic violence, name it as domestic violence. Hold the person responsible for choosing to be abusive in their relationships. Our livelihood as a society depends on it.

If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic violence please call the State of Illinois Domestic Violence Help Line at (877) 863-6338 for information on the services available to victims and perpetrators.

Dawn Dalton

Executive Director

Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network

Chicago