Mayor's worthwhile campaign: Please Join Today!

Feel free to adapt this information into a message or letter to your friends and associates.  Unfortunately, I'll be out-of-town on March 23, but I intend to promote the event as much as possible.  Join me in this worthwhile effort!

MEN AGAINST ABUSE

Putting an End to Domestic Violence in Dallas

Last month, Mayor Mike Rawlings felt compelled to speak out against the senseless, horrific acts of domestic violence taking place in our city. Overwhelmingly, 85% of these violent acts involve a man attacking a wife, girlfriend or partner.  

In the span of one year – from 2011 to 2012 – the number of Dallas murders related to domestic violence doubled. Already this year, four women have needlessly lost their lives due to domestic violence. This isn’t only a Dallas problem or even just a North Texas problem. It’s a worldwide epidemic. But in order for significant change to occur, we must address this issue locally.

Mayor Rawlings is calling for 10,000 men to join him at 10 a.m. March 23, 2013 at the Men Against Abuse Rally at Dallas City Hall Plaza, 1500 Marilla Street. I am taking a stand and joining Mayor Rawlings in this effort. We want the world to know – enough is enough! It’s time to end domestic violence in Dallas.

I am sending you this letter to ask you to 1) participate in the rally, 2) contact 20 other men encouraging them to participate, and 3) pledge the following:

• I will never commit an act of violence against women.
• I will hold abusive men accountable for their heinous actions and help them seek counseling.
• I will speak out against domestic violence and promote domestic violence awareness.
• I will teach my daughters, nieces and granddaughters that they never have to accept violence in a relationship, and teach my sons, nephews and grandsons that violence is an unacceptable way to express anger or displeasure.

To be clear, this event doesn’t exclude women. In fact, Mayor Rawlings worked closely with women and experts at women’s shelters on this effort. But we have to speak to men because we are a significant part of the problem.

Please join us at the rally and encourage your friends, relatives, coworkers, and employees to attend. Also, visit our website at www.dallasmenagainstabuse.com.  In the days and weeks ahead I will be sending you more information about the rally.

If you are part of an organization that provides solutions to ending violence and would like more information about how to be involved with the event, please call Paige Flink of the Family Place at 214.559.2170.

And please join us at the rally. Together, we can end domestic violence.