Event Turns Spotlight on Impact of Violence
Emotional stories from survivors of violence and abuse were heard this week at the Illinois Imagines Awareness Collaboration Team’s anti-violence “Take Back the Night” event at Walter Durley Boyle Park, Hennepin.
Teresa Tudor from the Bureau of Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention spoke about physical and sexual violence against people with disabilities.
“Without education, we’ll see more and more victims,” she said.
Another speaker, Putnam County State’s Attorney James Mack, said perpetrators always are looking for a window of opportunity while choosing victims. Sometimes that opportunity is holding a position of trust in the victim’s life, he said.
Other times, a victim can have a diminished mental or physical capacity, caused by circumstances such as disease, alcohol, inherited conditions and accidents. Or, victims can be unable to protect themselves because they are too young or elderly, he said.
Those at-risk groups can benefit greatly from the watchful eyes of others, Mack said.
“The extra set of eyes watching can deter it (potential abuse),” he said. “It’s important that we all be vigilant.”
Source: News Tribune
Teresa Tudor from the Bureau of Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention spoke about physical and sexual violence against people with disabilities.
“Without education, we’ll see more and more victims,” she said.
Another speaker, Putnam County State’s Attorney James Mack, said perpetrators always are looking for a window of opportunity while choosing victims. Sometimes that opportunity is holding a position of trust in the victim’s life, he said.
Other times, a victim can have a diminished mental or physical capacity, caused by circumstances such as disease, alcohol, inherited conditions and accidents. Or, victims can be unable to protect themselves because they are too young or elderly, he said.
Those at-risk groups can benefit greatly from the watchful eyes of others, Mack said.
“The extra set of eyes watching can deter it (potential abuse),” he said. “It’s important that we all be vigilant.”
Source: News Tribune