Take action.

Do you know someone living in an abusive relationship? Don’t just turn a blind eye.

Take action.

The most dangerous time for a woman after she leaves a relationship are the first six weeks. These are often the same weeks the man is facing a restraining order. Who will help the woman facing abuse if not you?

Take action.

Abuse is about power and control. It is not caused by drugs or alcohol, though certainly they can amplify it. It is not restricted to the indigent. Doctors and lawyers commit abuse just the same. Even the police chief in Tacoma, Wash., shot his wife in the head in 2003, before shooting himself.

Take action.

Here are some interesting statistics from the American Bar Association:

In a 1995-1996 study conducted in the 50 States and the District of Columbia, nearly 25 percent of women and 7.6 percent of men were raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabiting partner, or dating partner/acquaintance at some time in their lifetime (based on survey of 16,000 participants, equally male and female).

Approximately 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually in the United States.

In 2000, 1,247 women and 440 men were killed by an intimate partner. In recent years, an intimate partner killed approximately 33 percent of female murder victims and 4 percent of male murder victims.

Take action.

Do you know of someone in an abusive relationship? The number for the Freeborn County Crime Victims Crisis Center is 377-5460 during the day. After hours the number is 373-2223. They can help you.

And if you see or hear someone being abused right now, the number is 911.

Do the right thing. Be the good person. Don’t turn a blind eye to violence.

Take action.