ATLANTA – Today, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) released the following statement in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  

“If you are a victim of domestic violence, I want to know you are not alone. Please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1 800-799-SAFE or text ‘START’ to 88788,” said Congresswoman Williams. 

“Unfortunately, in 2020 Atlanta suffered what researchers at Emory University called ‘the co-occurring pandemics’ of COVID-19 and a surge in domestic violence. In both instances, the victims were disproportionately from marginalized communities. In Georgia, 37.4% of women and 30.4% of men experience some form of intimate partner or sexual violence in their lifetime. Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time to recognize that over 10 million people experience domestic violence in the United States each year.

“We cannot turn a blind eye to that horrific reality because all of us have an obligation to stop domestic violence. With my colleagues in Congress, I’m working to do exactly that, through comprehensive legislation that prevents violence and protects survivors and by raising awareness about the damaging effects of domestic violence. There are not two sides to this issue. You are either opposed to domestic violence or you aren’t.” 

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. And over 20,000 phone calls are placed to domestic violence hotlines per day across the country. In Congress, Congresswoman Williams is working to end this vicious cycle of domestic violence by sponsoring numerous pieces of legislation to stop domestic violence, including the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, the Fair Housing for Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Survivors Act, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and more.

CONTACT: PressGA05@mail.house.gov 

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