Domestic Violence Awareness Month: Croatian Video

The Croatian government created this powerful video to show the horrors of domestic violence. The video shows pictures taken everyday in the year of the life of a woman. Later images show bruising on the woman's face. The English translation of the video description.

A year in which I was abused . Please help me.

Good for the Croatian government for creating this video and raising awareness.

Quote of the Day

"Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting. Walk. Away."

Michelle Beadle

Families Recovering From Domestic Violence and the Shutdown

Our pal Ginger Lee is a must-read post on how the federal government shutdown is effecting women and children trying to escape domestic violence. These people will have a problem feeding themselves thanks to the shutdown.

When they got some of the fabled ‘government cheese’ (yes, it was a real thing) it was like a damn celebration, because FOOD. They were happy to sleep on people’s floors as long as they knew there would be some damn food every day. Bread. Bread was amazing. There were a million things that could be done with bread.

And it went this way for a while, because back then victim ‘services’ for people trying to escape domestic violence situations didn’t exist. It took a court order from a judge to tell the abusive person to GTFO out the residence so the abused person & her children could stop sleeping on random floors. Once that happened, the ‘food assistance’ was only needed a few more months before that parent could buy the groceries with no ‘help’. Having a kitchen along with a place to sleep at night was a magical thing.

The situation for mothers and children during the Reagan years was very bad. Due to the shutdown these families will have a hard time feeding themselves. Ginger Lee correctly points out that if people think churches are going to come to the rescue then they are living in fantasy land.

George Zimmerman In Police Custody

AP is reporting that police have detained but not arrested George Zimmerman. Zimmerman's wife Shellie claims Zimmerman threatened her and her father with a gun.

Shellie Zimmerman's marriage was experiencing problems for quite some time. Shellie was staying at her father's house the night Trayvon Martin died. Shellie has recently filed for divorce.

"I have a selfish husband and I think George is all about George," Shellie is quoted saying.

CNN reports that Zimmerman is in police custody. Police are investigating and have yet to officially arrest Zimmerman.

Update: Shellie told the 911 dispatcher that Zimmerman had his hand on his gun while he was arguing with her and her father. The question is why would Zimmerman need to bring a gun to his father-in-law's home.

Update: Shellie tells the 911 dispatcher that Zimmerman punched her father in the nose. She told the dispatcher that if Shellie or her father stepped closer he would shoot. Zimmerman is citing "Stand Your Ground" against his wife?

The call gets very confusing at the end. Something scares Shellie Zimmerman. Shellie says, "Oh, My God", on the phone.

The 911 recording. Most disturbing part of the call.

"Dad, get inside the house; George might start shooting at us."

Update: The AP tweeted that Shellie Zimmerman won't press charges. Police Chief Steve Bracknell is not happy about this.

Chief Bracknell says of Zimmerman, "The guy just can't stay out of the news" -- referring to the Trayvon Martin killing, speeding tickets and now this. Bracknell says, "You'd think he'd get the heck out of Dodge."

We're told Shellie recanted her story after talking to her lawyer. The Chief said because of her flip-flopping, "There was not enough to affect an arrest, unfortunately."

Money quote from Bracknell.

We asked him if he'd feel safe if Zimmerman was his next door neighbor. The Chief was clear ... "I would not want to be the neighbor of George Zimmerman."

Update: Orlando Sentinel reporter Jeff Weiner sent out this tweet.

Police spokesman confirms LMPD has #GeorgeZimmerman's gun, but adds: "More than likely we'll be giving it back."

— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) September 9, 2013

Dan Amira, senior editor of New York Magazine responded with this tweet.

George Zimmerman could pistol whip the governor and Florida would still give him his gun back https://t.co/wGKuCH3OeU

— Dan Amira (@DanAmira) September 9, 2013

Anti-Stalking Laws in VAWA

Pushing Rope pal Ginger Lee wrote about how Republicans delaying passage of the Violence Against Women Act were endangering from that are being stalked.

Without VAWA, most states won’t recognize a protective order from another state. As it currently stands, attempting to cross state lines safely, and doing so in a way that will allow a protective order to be used if something occurs outside of the jurisdiction of the original order, is a complicated process. The laws vary so greatly from state to state that what may “protect” a person in TN won’t protect a person in SD unless an ‘out of state’ registration is applied for. When applying for an out of state recognition, there are states that will contact the person the protective order is against. For victims trying to “disappear” or get to a safe place outside of the state the order was written, complying with the laws correctly can put them in danger.

Go and read her post.

Patrick Stewart Wants Violence Against Women to End

Actor Sir Patrick Stewart spoke at the Diplomatic Ballroom at the United Nations. Stewart wants one million men to promise to end violence against women.

"Every nine seconds a woman is assaulted or beaten in the United States," Stewart said.

Stewart drove the point home by counting to nine. Stewart knows firsthand about assault on women. At the age of 6, Stewart witnessed his father assaulting his mother.

"I became an expert on when to open the door and throw myself between my father's fist and my mother's body," Stewart said.

He said his father "was unable to control his emotions—and his hands."

"My mother did not do anything to provoke my father," Stewart said. "But even if she did, violence is not the answer."

Stewart is asking men to pledge to not commit violence against women. I hereby vow not to commit acts of violence against women.

If you are a woman in Tampa experiencing domestic violence, you can seek help at the Spring.

Why VAWA Has Helped Women

Sen. Mark Udall released this helpful graph on how the Violence Against Women Act curtailed domestic violence.

Dubious Rubio

Sen. Marco Rubio makes the argument that Congress is too busy to pass new gun regulations. The last 112th Congress was known for a lack of productivity. The current Congress doesn't promise to be any more productive. Rubio never got around to producing his much touted immigration reform bill during the last Congress. Rubio did find time to go on a book tour.

In other Rubio related news: Florida's junior senator was one of eight Republicans to vote to block the Violence Against Women Act.

Eight Senators on Monday voted not to consider the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a bill that protects victims of domestic violence. The Senators who voted against moving to debate on the bill were: Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Tim Scott (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Rand Paul (R-KY), Pat Roberts (R-KS), and James Risch (R-ID).

It says something when Rubio is to the right of the Republican caucus. Jezebel is urging people to contact Rubio and other senators to voice their displeasure. Contact Rubio at www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/mobile/contact.

The answers Rubio gave were at the Buzzfeed Brews. Rubio said at this event that he didn't like beer. Nothing wrong with that. Perhaps Buzzfeed should have asked Rubio first.

Compassionate Conservatism: Rick Scott & FLA Legislature Edition

Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald politial reporter Mary Ellen Klas has an article implying that Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida legislature are ignoring the problems of foreclosures, homelessness and unemployment. Scott and Republicans haven't ignored the situation. They have worked hard to make the problems worse for working class Floridians.

Scott publicly told the Florida Bar that he wants to make foreclosures faster for banks to process. There have been numerous cases of homeowners illegally foreclosed upon because of fraudulent legal documents. The Florida legislature set up the infamous "rocket docket" courts with judges who do not even read the foreclosure paperwork. In Rick Scott's world, the foreclosure industry is overregulated.

A true patriot, Scott vetoed $12 million for the National Veteran's Homeless Support Group. The funding would have been used to provide housing for veterans. Scott also vetoed $1 million in legal aid funding that goes to help to homeless and victims of domestic violence.

Scott signed into law a cut in unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 20. To receive unemployment, one must submit to a drug test. The drug test part of the law has been struck down by the courts.

The question is exactly whose life is suppose to get better under the bill that Scott has signed into law? Scott gives lip service about caring. Can anyone cite a policy from Scott that has helped Floridians in need?

Homeless Beating In Seminole County

Justin Collison, 21, of Seminole County attacked and knocked out a homeless man. Collison attacked the man from behind. Collison's father is a Sanford police officer. Which might explain why he was able to avoid jail time for previous incidents.

At 16, Collison flipped his father's Ford pickup. Collison was cited for careless driving. He was not given a ticket or blood or breath test.

At 17, Collison was charged with beating and choking his girlfriend. Police found bruise marks on the girl and Collison was reportedly using drugs at the time. The girlfriend stopped cooperating with the police after Collison's family agreed to pay for property damage. Charges were dropped.

In 2007, Collison was investigated for shooting a man in the chest.

Collison had gotten drunk and after escorting a carload of friends off the property, fired a rifle at their vehicle as it drove away on State Road 415, according to a Volusia County Sheriff's Office incident report.

A 20-year-old Sanford man, Jon Regan, was seriously wounded.

Collison and the other man in his vehicle, Brandon Hilliard, were arrested, accused of aggravated battery, aggravated assault and shooting into a vehicle, but prosecutors never filed charges and abandoned the case six months later.

I have a hard time believing that if Collison's father wasn't a police officer that he wouldn't have done jail time by now.

New Joe Garcia Ad

The Joe Garcia has released an attack ad against David Rivera. There have been investigative media reports on Rivera ramming into a truck carrying the campaign mailers of an opponent. Rivera has also been accused of domestic violence. Rivera claims it was another David M. Rivera. Below is a Clerk of Courts record of the restraining order.



Charges were filed against a David M. Rivera by Jenia Dorticos. If it was another Rivera then why did the politician David Rivera appear in a Facebook photo (that has since been taken down) with the woman's mother.



David Rivera the politician is the only David M. Rivera who comes up in public records for Miami-Dade County.



Rivera has close ties to Marco Rubio. Both campaigned in New Hampshire for Mike Huckabee. Rivera and Rubio had their fically conservative images tarnished by having their Tallahassee house foreclosed on.

The Garcia attack ad highlights Rivera smashing into a mail truck.



The press release from the Garcia campaign.

MIAMI – On Wednesday, the Joe Garcia for Congress campaign launched a television ad titled “News” (Click here to watch the ad). The 30 second spot highlights a CBS 4 investigative report on David Rivera’s attempt to hijack a mail delivery truck on Miami’s busy Palmetto Expressway that carried his opponent’s campaign fliers. As both CBS 4 and the Miami Herald have reported, David Rivera has lied about the attack and has even misrepresented the contents of the police report. A “fact check” of Rivera’s deceiving statements is attached to this e-mail.

The Garcia campaign has launched an accompanying website with the ad, http://DavidRiveraTruth.com to inform voters of Rivera’s dangerous and reckless past.

Giancarlo Sopo, spokesman for the Joe Garcia campaign, issued the following statement regarding the ad:

“People have a right to know about David Rivera’s disregard for innocent lives. As news outlets, witnesses and a police report all confirm, David Rivera used his car to force a mail delivery truck, carrying his opponent’s fliers, off the Palmetto Expressway during rush-hour traffic. Rivera’s reckless attempt to hide the content of those fliers endangered the lives of innocent drivers on their way home. Rivera has shown no remorse for his recklessness as he continues to lie about it. David Rivera is dangerous and unfit to represent our families in Congress.”

Who Is David M. Rivera?

NRCC spokeswoman Joanna Burgos told Talking Points Memo, ""It's Miami, there are lots of David M. Riveras."

According to the VoteBuilder, a people search engine used by the Democratic National Committee and the Florida Democratic Party, there is only one David Rivera in the Miami area. I blacked out the address and phone number.

Rivera has been featured in a Miami Herald investigation. Rivera claims it was another David M. Rivera who went to court in a domestic violence case involving Jenna Dorticos. Congressional candidate Rivera said he never met Dorticos. However, Rivera appeared in a Facebook photo with Dorticos' mother.

Another bizaree part of the story is Rivera was involved in a car accident with a Liberty Mailing Services truck carrying leaflets accusing Rivera of domestic violence. Talking Points Memo has the accident report. The Rivera campaign has made no attempts to claim another David M. Rivera was responsible for the accident.

This is a serious allegation: if there is another David M. Rivera who was involved in a domestic violence case with Dorticos then I will be more than happy to make corrections. However, voters have a right to know and there are holes in Rivera's story. It is rather strange behavior to show up in a Facebook photo with the mother of a woman Rivera previosly denied knowing. It is hard to believe Rivera did not know the van was carrying leaflets accusing him of domestic violence. What is even more disturbing is the van was forced off the road because of his driving. Rivera's road rage alone poises serious questions about his fitness to serve.

Domestic Violence Allegations Against David Rivera

David Rivera is running for Congress. Rivera's previous claim to fame is sponsoring legislation to move the Florida 2008 presidential primary to February 5th. The result was disasterous. Rivera unsuccessfully attempted to have a University of Florida school named after Jeb Bush.

Rivera was a Mike Huckabee volunteer in New Hampshire. Rivera nearly got himself run over by running into the street and hand drivers oranges. A police officer chewed Rivera out for endangering traffic. Rivera has championed himself as a fiscal conservative. Rivera and friend Marco Rubio have a hard time complaining how they let their Tallahassee get foreclosed on.

Now Rivera is being accused of commiting domestic violence against Jenna Dorticos. Howie Klein of Down With Tyranny posted this document.



The restraining order was dropped a month later. No criminal charges were ever filed.

Rivera claims to never to have met Dorticos. Rivera was photographed with Dorticos' mother at a fundraiser held by actor Steven Bauer.



David Rivera claims it is a different David M. Rivera in legal documents.

"Nowadays you can put a name into a computer and accusations come out," Rivera told AmericaTeVe. According to Down With Tyranny, candidate David M. Rivera is the only David M. Rivera who comes up in record searches.

This is a serious charge. If Rivera is innocent then this has been a horrible misunderstanding. However, if Rivera did use violence against women then voters had a right a right to know.

Domestic Violence in Afghanistan

This is a horrifying video of a Afghan woman whom had her face and ear cut off by her husband. This same abusive man poured hot water on his child. There is absolutely no excuse for a man to do this to his wife and child. The Afghanistan culture is so back ass. I wish I knew how to stop this knid of violent behavior. Whether it is the Taliban or the United States controlling the provinces, the vicious cycle of violence against women and children continues.

Compassionate Conservatism: Hillsborough County Commission Edition

Ronda Storms and Brian Blair convinced fellow Hillsborough County Commissioners to vote against funding for the Family Justice Center. The mission of the FJC is "to provide comprehensive services to Hillsborough County domestic violence victims and their families in a centralized location, or ‘one-stop-shop.’" The FJC is now endanger of closing down.

Modeled after a U.S. Department of Justice program and initially funded by a $1.1 million startup grant, the center never could attract local dollars, executive director Nikki Daniels said.

She is making a final plea to the community this week, but Daniels said Wednesday she knows it's a long shot. The center needs $360,000 to remain open through September. Without it, the doors close Feb. 8.

'That Center Probably Saved Lives'

"I believe that that center has probably saved lives," said state Rep. Rich Glorioso, R-Plant City, who serves on the center's board. "And I will guarantee you that it saved some people from really being battered. Funding this center is crucial. We may not save some lives in the future if we don't keep it open."

Blair and Storms voted against the Center under the faulty logic that it duplicates the The Spring of Tampa Bay. The Spring can not handle all the abused women in Tampa. Blair and Storms have no problems throwing tax dollars at Championship Park and Raymond James Stadium. (Blair later backed down.)

The duplicate services meme is a politically correct way of saying that conservatives blame these women for the predicament they're in. Republicans aren't going to tell voters they are more passionate about corporate welfare for local sports teams than a woman with three children getting the shit beat out of her every night. That wouldn't be politically correct. Cutting funding for a women's domestic violence shelter is deemed the politically decent thing to do. Welcome to the world of compassionate conservatism.

Nonprofit Causes of the Day

Jobsite Theater

I have been trying to organize a Jobsite Theater fundraiser. Until that happens I'm asking you to help the Tampa theatre company with a donation. The company was big winner at the Creative Loafing Best of the Bay awards. Help them continue providing Tampa with great theatre.

The Pretty Bird Woman House

Far too many women have experienced domestic violence, homelessness and sexual abuse. The Pretty Bird Woman House in South Dakota provides aid to women in need. These are the services PBWH has provided within a year's time.

* Served a total of 614 individuals with education and services.
* Answered 397 crisis calls
* Provided emergency shelter to 188 women and 132 children.
* Helped 23 women obtain restraining orders, 10 get divorces, and 16 get medical assistance
* Provided court advocacy support for 28 women, and
* Conducted community education programs for 360 women.

The shocker is PBWH have only a staff of three.

The house the they bought was vandalized and burned down. They need to raise $70,000.
Their current fundraising total is $24,341.01 Please help them get a new house to shelter women.

Domestic Violence Seminar

The Tampa University of South Florida (USF) is holding a domestic violence seminar at the Marshall Center.

Name: A seminar on Domestic Violence

Host: Black Graduate & Professional Students Association @ USF

Type: Meetings - Informational Meeting

Time and Place Date: Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Time: 5:30pm - 6:45pm

Location: Marshall Center Rm. 106

City/Town: Tampa