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A planned billboard by Casa de las Madres, a nonprofit that aids victims of domestic abuse. The message is intended to counter a comment by San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi that his alleged abuse of his wife was a "private matter."
In San Francisco, newly elected sheriff Ross Mirkarimi will go before a court of law to face domestic abuse charges on Feb. 24. But in the court of public opinion, he has already received a drubbing for the way he seemed to publicly minimize charges that he roughed up his wife, calling it a “private matter.”
A local nonprofit that helps victims of domestic abuse says it's planning to put up a billboard that takes direct aim at Mirkarimi’s comment. Casa de las Madres on Thursday announced it had raised the $4,000 it needed to buy the space for its emphatic message: “Domestic Violence is NEVER a private matter.”
“It started with a statement that an act of alleged domestic violence was a private matter,” said Kathy Black, executive director of the nonprofit. “No one countered it. Domestic violence is a legal matter. It’s against the law.”
New sheriff mired in domestic abuse drama
The billboard is also intended “to reassure victims … that they have a right to call and ask for help, they have the right to call 9-1-1 or a hotline and say ‘what are my options?’”
The billboard's planned location about six blocks from the courthouse was chosen for its high commuter traffic, Black said. The spot was picked through Loudsauce.com, a site that connects causes with available advertising space, she said. The billboard will appear on Feb. 15 or 16, a week before Mirkarimi's trial starts, she said.
Black said it’s not intended to be a comment about the sheriff’s guilt or innocence, but it definitely is about the comment he made.
“You don’t want the top law enforcer to be sending out a message diminishing a crime, whether he is involved or not,” said Black.
Casa de las Madres, a 35-year-old organization in the city runs a 24-hour hotline for domestic abuse calls, provides emergency shelter for victims and trains police officers on how to better recognize domestic violence.
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What an excellent example of a double standard. June 19, 2005 the same thing happened. Only this time the Domestic Violence abuser was another City Official.
It was swept under the rug by the good old girls in office at the time. This is a mirrored duplication of alleged DV only this time a male is the alleged abuser. In 2005 it was a female abuser, documented on the police 911 tapes. Shocking difference in the outrage that is being expressed this time. In 2005 there was NO concern for the children involved.
The Double Standard is alive and well.
So... just because a different situation happened 7 years ago that was perhaps not dealt with correctly, what this guy did now is of lesser importance? I do not understand people like you who try to defend the undefendable by dragging up unrelated cases from the past. I can have no opinion of the case you are referring to, as I know nothing about it, but your attempt to minimize the current case is abhorrent.
MSN deleted my link. Google: SF Fire Chief, Domestic Violence,
and see the similarities. It's like looking into a mirror. The actual 911 tape is on the youtube link.
Why wasn't a billboard put up back then by La Casa?
Why is MSNBC not telling you about that case?
Why is US NEWS ignoring the double standard?
Inquiring minds want to know!
NewM....you're not allowed to post links until after a probationary period used to confirm you're not an advertiser, spammer or some other type of malcontent. After that period you will be able to post links. I believe that is stated in the rules when you create an account.
Its San Francisco
Full of loons anyway!
Sadly you are right about them. Worse children are the victims of those supposed to protect the,
Most twisted abuse of domestic violence laws by the justice system I have seen. This is what happens when political correctness goes on attack against children.
"political correctness goes on attack against children." What on earth does that even mean? Prosecuting a husband who may have abused his wife in front of their child is an attack against children?? I am speechless.
Shame of the people who put up this billboard. They have convicted this man before a trial showing their lynch mob mentality. They also have tainted any jury pool making it impossible to have a fair trial in San Fransisco.
This double standard is a result of the laws past by radical feminists. It is a part of their war against traditional family; men and children. I hope people wake up before it is too late. We need reform of laws to really protect people not break families. To prevent the justice system from becoming a place to settle personal vendettas. We must allow real science to be used instead of made up statistics to determine the best approach to domestic violence.
No, they have not convicted this man. They have, however, taken a stand regarding a statement that he made. The court will decide that matter. However, by attempting to minimize the charges against him by claiming it was a "personal matter" does, in fact, deserve an answer. That is always one of the first excuses of those who commit domestic violence (I'm not necessarily talking about him) and it is an excuse they should not be allowed to hide behind. When an official of law enforcement uses that same old excuse to try to deflect the scrutiny he is under he should not get away with it, either. Real victims of domestic violence (not saying his wife is in this category or not) need to know that they do have options, that they can speak out and that their issues will not be swept under the rug by authorities like this sheriff because it is only a "private matter."
As for your so-called double standard and the attack of the "radical feminists" against "traditional family" - you are either a misogynistic piece of dirt yourself or totally delusional. I find it telling that you define traditional families as men and children, even if that was a grammatical error. Protecting women from domestic violence is a plot against traditional families? So you are saying that in a good, old-fashioned traditional marriage it is the man's right to beat his uppity wife into submission if that's what it takes? Spare the rod, spoil the wife? Women shouldn't have the opportunity to escape abusive relationships because it "breaks up a family"? Get real.
The only double standard they may exist is if women who commit the same crime with the same level of physical damage to their spouse is not held accountable. That means the need to prosecute more women offenders -- not failure to prosecute the men.
To clarify: the billboard is about what he said - not about what he may or may not have done.