2 Responses to “Write To the Women of CWAA”

1. Hi,
   I will send a copy of uncording…I am also wondering what Tereasa Cruz
   (sp)is doing? I was the Advocate for Claudia Reddy and I ran into her Mother at the Board of Prison Terms, often…she was such an inspiration to all of us…I told Pete Wilson “If my daughter was ever incarcerated for defending her life from an abuser…Green Peace would have nothing on me…I would be sitting on the Rotundra! Mothers & Children Support The Battered Woman’s Defense came into being because I was impressed and felt sooo much compassion for the Mothers whose daughter are serving life in prison and raising their grand children. And with Claudia’s Mother she had to watch her daugter die…I did get her a hospital and a hospice unit and her loved ones were there. Teresa’s Mom never gave up and died of breast cancer because she was sooo wounded. It really is about what we do with our wounding because the hurt and pain is there….I keep going and taking ACTION to stay in power and to deal with my anger and frustration.
   Letting Go And Letting God is a big peice to learn but it does work. So keep doing what works. I have always been impressed with the women in CIW for moving forward and breaking the silence.
   Writing Oprah is a good action…moving away from punishment for taking action and women being crazy has to be changed and she is the one who can do it. Let her know about what you are doing and Sin By Silence.
   I also put petitions on the petitionsite.com….I just removed letters to Joe Biden
   and the First Lady because I have been under cyber attack.
   So ask your friends and families to subscribe or find petitions for the release of battered women and prison reform. I will be putting out more info.
   I will be out this weekend gathering signatures at Wal Mart under threat of arrest to begin a release program for bws’s.
   Hang in there! Keep moving. I don’t know how many beatings I took in my life and pushed back in my chair and forbidden to speak up and speak out from the men in my lives and even women, but quess what…I grew up and became an ACTIVIST! Ha! Ha! I faced loosing my life for me to gain my freedom…I could be right where you are….I got lucky and I swear to you that I will never give up until you are free.I am hoping to do some fundraising soon. I work for free.
   I sent the questions to Sonia Sotomayer about is the Supreme Court Defense gender specific enough since men are getting manslaughter and women are getting life…I also want to know what is the intention of The Supreme Court regardind sentencing…is it acquittal and involuntary manslaughter or life in prison? What does she intend to do about all the battered women robbed of the defense and overly sentenced sitting in the Justice Department?
   The new NOW President is an Attorney, she has worked on battered women survivors. Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton
   has asked to sit down with NOW and findout what NOW wants…I am hoping the Freedom Of Battered Women In Prison Across America!

   Sandra White
   August 6th, 2009

2. Hello Glenda, LaVelma, Joanne, Rosemary, and Virgil,

   Thank you so much for appearing on the video “Sin by Silence.” I was privileged to see a screening of it tonight at Vanguard University. It was such an encouragement to see Brenda in person. I pray that someday soon, you too, will regain your freedom.

   I just want to write to tell you that hearing your stories really touched my heart. I admire you all for having the courage to share the stories of your lives on camera openly and honestly. I hope and pray that this movie will have a tremendous impact to change our world for the better–it starts with 1 voice. In this particular case 6 voices were highlighted and I hope it will be all the more influential.

   I grew up in an abusive home; mostly mental and emotional, but the physical reared its ugly head every so often. Nearly every night my father would get set off by something—clothes on the floor, dinner not ready and waiting, if his kids didn’t exuberantly greet him when he got home—into a drunken rage until the early hours of the morning. Hitting my mother, throwing beer bottles close to someone’s face, and always threats of what would happen if we ever left him increased as time went on. As a young child, I knew I couldn’t tell anyone anything about what happened at home, at night. By 5 yrs old I had a plan to run away if anything ever happened to Mom; I did not want my sister and I to be left alone with him. And the worst part of it all was I thought this kind of behavior was normal; I knew everyone didn’t live this way, but it was the norm for how I lived, at least. We left twice. Went back after he’d “changed.” Finally when I was 12 yrs old we left for good. We went into a shelter and disappeared. However, by the time I was 11 I realized the depravity of his behavior. I lost all respect for him and began to resent him. If my mother hadn’t gotten us out of there; I’m sure I would’ve have killed him myself within a few years. But God is good—I’m now 24 and keeping both eyes open for those red flags, so I can have a healthy relationship. My mom now leads a domestic violence ministry at our church and is working with community support efforts.

   All that to say, I can relate in some small way to what you’ve been through. I commend you ladies for taking your deep hurts and pain, seeking help and healing in the CWAA, and then now turning it around to help others and improve our society. I encourage you to keep truckin,’ as my grandpa would say—keep moving forward, doing the best you can. Continue to seek help and healing. Know that your voice is making a difference. Please keep striving for change. One day the laws will be improved and I pray that eventually violence in the home will only be a barbaric thing of the past.

   Thanks again, for sharing.

   Sincerely,

   Katrina
   Costa Mesa, CA

   katrina
   September 2nd, 2009