Stopping the Violence

It Takes Everyone to Make a Difference

Speak Out Against Domestic and Sexual Violence

  • If you see or hear violent encounters, call for help…local, state or campus police.
  • Interrupt discriminatory statements and jokes by friends, colleagues, family, and others, when you are able.
  • Interrupt sexist remarks and choose not to participate in activities that are harassing.
  • Inform those who you know to be abusive of your support for non-violent means of handling conflict and your lack of tolerance for abusive behaviors.
  • Organize your community group's involvement in the local task force to end domestic and/or sexual violence.
  • Ask your employer about their company policy on workplace violence and sexual harassment, and learn of their practices in supporting victims of domestic and sexual violence and holding accountable perpetrators of such violence.
  • Ask your faith leader to speak of non-violence while identifying the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence.
  • Write your legislators to let them know your position on violence against women and children.
  • Question your legislators as to their position on domestic violence and sexual assault, and then hold them to their word.
  • Write letters to the editor of your local paper(s) when an opportunity arises or is reported on in the media.
  • Initiate and become involved in conversations about violence in the home and in the streets.
  • Educate yourself and listen to survivors.

Show Your Support

  • Organize a fund raising event through your local civic club.
  • Partner with others in your faith community and/or worksite to create a safe environment for survivors to disclose and be supported within their own faith/work communities.
  • Invite advocates from your local domestic violence and rape crisis center to conduct education programs with your professional association, civic club members, or community/school group.
  • Attend community wide events sponsored by your local domestic violence and rape crisis center.
  • Put a bumper sticker on your vehicle or a button on your jacket.
  • Purchase from companies, businesses, artists, and individuals who support non-violence and do not contribute to violence against women and children or racist practices.
  • Volunteer at your local women's center, crisis hotline, or women's shelter.
  • Organize donation drives for the local women's shelter to meet the needs of their 'wish list'.
  • Contribute money in any amount whenever possible.
  • Educate yourself and listen to survivors of all ages, races, gender, income, abilities, and religions.

Educate

  • Approach your local business(es) to join in a community education campaign displaying posters, flyers, and other educational information.
  • Talk to your school's PTO or PTA about sponsoring a panel or discussion on dating violence, sexual harassment in the schools, domestic violence, and/or sexual assault.
  • Involve a school club in organizing teens for non-violence.
  • Learn the facts about domestic violence and share them with others.
  • Set up domestic violence workshops in your workplace, community group or church. Ask your schools to address this subject with their students.

Be A Friend

  • Help a friend in an abusive situation by being a good listener. Tell her it is not her fault. Help her to find resources and support available in your community.
  • Know that domestic violence can happen in lesbian and gay relationships. Be willing to hear.
  • Know who to call for help. Find the numbers of the local domestic violence and rape crisis center, women's shelter, and local police. Remember, though, to empower the victim to make her own decisions about who she wants to call or tell.
  • Recognize that domestic violence crosses all socio-economic lines and social strata.
  • Know that violence is not an acceptable way to deal with anger and conflict. She did not ask for it. She did not deserve it.

Be A Role Model

  • Make a commitment to non-violence. Let others know about your commitment.
  • Work to end oppression in its many forms.
  • Learn nonviolent conflict resolution strategies for your own relationships with your partner and when disciplining your children.

Source: adapted from and used with permission of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and the National Sexual Assault Resource Center.