Assemblyman Leland Yee: Men Can Prevent Violence

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women in America. Each year, more than six million women are terrorized by those who supposedly love them.

It is appalling that nearly 1 in 3 women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetimes. Additionally, the San Francisco based Family Violence Prevention Fund reports that nationally 3 million to 10 million children witness domestic violence every year, and that 1 in 5 high-school girls experience dating violence.

In California, the numbers are equally disheartening. The Department of Justice reports more than 600 incidents of domestic violence every day. In addition, 57 percent of homeless women list domestic violence as the immediate cause of their homelessness. Domestic violence is more than a private matter - it is a public health epidemic.

Each October, which is "Domestic Violence Awareness Month," communities and organizations throughout California sponsor activities to increase public understanding of this terrible reality. In the Bay Area, we have many dedicated advocacy organizations with devoted volunteers, including the SF Commission on the Status of Women and the Family Violence Prevention Fund, which helps women deal with the consequences of violence. These organizations not only assist battered women with the physical and psychological effects of violence, but help raise awareness of the problem in our communities by holding walks, protests and vigils.

Dedicated advocates do much to heal the wounds of domestic violence and have made considerable gains in addressing the root causes of domestic violence as well. But much more needs to be done to break the cycle of intergenerational violence.

A significant way to do so is to end the silence among men and boys. As a way to break the silence, I recently launched the first White Ribbon Campaign in California. Assembly Concurrent Resolution 106 is overwhelmingly supported by the legislature, especially by its male members.

We must all participate in the effort to create zero-tolerance to domestic violence in California. To obtain a free action kit to show you the warning signs of domestic violence, how to help someone who is being abused and where to find lifesaving community resources, please call (888) 303-4500.

Family violence is not just a women's issue; it's a community problem that needs men and women working together.

Leland Yee is the speaker pro tempore at the California Assembly.