Activism

Opinion- John Lewis a Hero to Victims of Domestic Violence

Published

4 years ago

August 12, 2020

Of the many reasons, the late John Lewis is being praised for his work civil rights and anti-racism activism, I want to take this opportunity to celebrate his work in the fight against domestic violence and intimate partner abuse.

Firstly, in a time when domestic violence was seldom discussed, Lewis made it a political issue. Secondly, having a Black man join the fight against domestic violence had an impact that cannot be overestimated.

His deep compassion helped vulnerable victims without voices because he spoke for them. Renowned for saying to “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise…,” he made “some noise” in the fight to eliminate domestic violence. It was only part of his incredible legacy but so important to the mission of agencies like A Safe Place across the nation.

His engagement began with the Violence Against Women Act (1994), the cornerstone of his achievement in fighting domestic violence. Time reported that due to VAWA, “the overall rate of intimate-partner violence dropped 64% from 1993 to 2010.”

VAWA required continual reauthorizations by Congress and John Lewis led that fight. “People elect you to lead, to teach, to inspire and to get people to move to a certain level where you create a greater sense of community.”

Lewis not only recognized the abuse of women, he also reached out to male abusers and supported male victims of abuse who were often too ashamed to report being abused.

In 2012, he led a congressional briefing titled “Engaging Men in Violence Prevention” that “discussed how to include males of all ages, both victims and potential abusers, in both prevention and treatment strategies.”

The women’s liberation and battered women’s movements have not always been inclusive of men. However, the need is greater since men make up only a small percentage of advocates working in the field. Therefore, John Lewis’ high visibility in the fight against domestic violence modeled the incredible impact made by Black men when they join the movement against domestic violence.

Lewis also took action by sponsoring The Teen Dating Violence Prevention Act of 2008 (H.R. 7208), authorizing the Dept. of Justice to support a number of activities, including professional mental health services for both victims and abusers.

The CDC points out that 1 in 9 females and 1 in 36 males have reported experiencing sexual dating violence and “that sexual minority groups are disproportionately affected by all forms of violence, and some racial/ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by many types of violence.”

Lewis not only recognized the abuse of women; he also advocated for male victims of abuse, recognizing the cycle of violence occurs with men as victims and survivors.

The goal at A Safe Place is to continue the work of Rep. John Lewis in the community, keeping his goals alive in the prevention of intimate partner violence. Therefore, in remembrance of John Lewis we ask, if you know someone being abused, in a home, in a school, at work, on the street, please make some noise. That’s what he would have wanted.

Sponsored Content for A Safe Place. Simon Johnson is a marketing consultant for A Safe Place.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

7 days ago

April 26, 2024

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

2 weeks ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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Oakland Schools Honor Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice. His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

Fred Korematsu. Courtesy of OUSD.

By Post Staff

Every Jan. 30, OUSD commemorates the legacy of Fred Korematsu, an Oakland native, a Castlemont High School graduate, and a national symbol of resistance, resilience, and justice.

His defiant stand against racial injustice and his unwavering commitment to civil rights continue to inspire the local community and the nation. Tuesday was “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” in the state of California and a growing number of states across the country.
One OUSD school is named in his honor: Fred T. Korematsu Discovery Academy (KDA) elementary in East Oakland.

Several years ago, founding KDA Principal Charles Wilson, in a video interview with anti-hate organization “Not In Our Town,” said, “We chose the name Fred Korematsu because we really felt like the attributes that he showed in his work are things that the children need to learn … that common people can stand up and make differences in a large number of people’s lives.”

Fred Korematsu was born in Oakland on Jan. 30, 1919. His parents ran a floral nursery business, and his upbringing in Oakland shaped his worldview. His belief in the importance of standing up for your rights and the rights of others, regardless of race or background, was the foundation for his activism against racial prejudice and for the rights of Japanese Americans during World War II.

At the start of the war, Korematsu was turned away from enlisting in the National Guard and the Coast Guard because of his race. He trained as a welder, working at the docks in Oakland, but was fired after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fear and prejudice led to federal Executive Order 9066, which forced more than 120,000 Japanese Americans out of their homes and neighborhoods and into remote internment camps.

The 23-year-old Korematsu resisted the order. He underwent cosmetic surgery and assumed a false identity, choosing freedom over unjust imprisonment. His later arrest and conviction sparked a legal battle that would challenge the foundation of civil liberties in America.

Korematsu’s fight culminated in the Supreme Court’s initial ruling against him in 1944. He spent years in a Utah internment camp with his family, followed by time living in Salt Lake City where he was dogged by racism.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford overturned Executive Order 9066. Seven years later, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco vacated Korematsu’s conviction. He said in court, “I would like to see the government admit that they were wrong and do something about it so this will never happen again to any American citizen of any race, creed, or color.”

Korematsu’s dedication and determination established him as a national icon of civil rights and social justice. He advocated for justice with Rosa Parks. In 1998, President Bill Clinton gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom saying, “In the long history of our country’s constant search for justice, some names of ordinary citizens stand for millions of souls … To that distinguished list, today we add the name of Fred Korematsu.”

After Sept. 11, 2001, Korematsu spoke out against hatred and discrimination, saying what happened to Japanese Americans should not happen to people of Middle Eastern descent.
Korematsu’s roots in Oakland and his education in OUSD are a source of great pride for the city, according to the school district. His most famous quote, which is on the Korematsu elementary school mural, is as relevant now as ever, “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”