The following story was posted to the Success Stories section of the V-Day web site in October 2002, several months before the 1% Campaign was announced.
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This afternoon I sat and watched a story on Beverly Watson. If you remember she was one of our more high profile domestic violence victims here in Atlanta. Her husband was recently convicted of murder. One of our more successful victories, if you can call it that. I wonder does anyone remember Phyllis Wooten? Her abusive husband murdered her a little over a year ago. I too am a victim of domestic violence. Fortunately, I did not meet the same fate as these two woman and thousands more. Unfortunately, I have experienced the same justice system that Phyllis Wooten did, in which one receives no justice at all.

We as a society think of terrorism as a political attack on our country. The definition of terrorism is to cause extreme fear, the use of intimidation to attain one’s goals or to advance one’s cause. This happens every day in our country, it is called domestic violence. What I experienced is no different. What I don't understand is why we as a society tend to accept domestic "terrorism" but condemn national terrorism. Someone twice my size lay on top of me, looked into my eyes and told me he would kill me. I thought I was going to die.

Unfortunately, any help sought for this type of "terrorism" is often brushed aside, leaving those in need not only victim of their aggressor, but of the systems that are supposed to protect them as well.

Therapy is often a recommended treatment for women who are victims of family violence. However, they often do not find the sympathy and help they expect. For example, I read an article in which psychiatrist Alfred Messer "recommended that women being stalked by exes might deter future threats by eating garlic cloves and then kissing their stalkers, who then might be driven away by the odor of their breath." If this is the attitude which therapists are conveying to their patients, are we in fact only revictimizing these women?

While most victims of domestic violence do nothing as Beverly Watson, some of us do try to get the courts to protect us, but with little results. For example, Phyllis Wooten's husband disabled her car, held her and her children prisoner, and terrorized them. She made a police report, but the Cobb County Judge decided that there was no evidence of violence, despite the fact that when he was arrested he had weapons in his possession.

I too, tried to make a stand against my attacker. While my case did make it to a jury, it was handed to an inexperienced prosecutor who did little if any investigation. My attacker had a history of domestic violence. Unfortunately, this is a fact which was never brought up in the courtroom. The prosecutor was overworked, and knew little about the case and was unable to present the facts correctly. My attacker was able to hire an attorney who was able to very creatively misrepresent the facts. A man who beat me and threatened to kill me was acquitted. This was not the first time that he had committed these crimes, and I am sure it will not be the last. To this day I live in fear that this man has not finished his promise.

I have mentioned systems that are supposed to help victims of domestic violence. These are the systems we as victims are told to go to. Why are they failing us?

Our country is hell bent on punishing Al Quaida, attacking Saddam Hussiam and searching for Bin Ladin. These are people who are terrorizing citizens of our country. I am a citizen, and I want to know why there is such a lax attitude to protect victims of domestic violence.

We need to address this problem before the victims are dead by the hands of their abuser. Beverly Watson did not receive justice; only her memory did.

Please help educate our justice system so that we do arrest and prosecute those who are deserving of it, and take interest in our victims in life rather than in death. Please remember me now!