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Posts Tagged ‘Domestic Violence’

Chris Brown Arraigned

10:47 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Celebrities|Controversia|crime|Justice · Comments Off

6 Mar 2009

chrisbrowncourt Rihanna may have forgiven boyfriend Chris Brown for allegedly physically abusing her — indeed, some reports are emerging that the couple has even married — but justice has not. U.S. Today reports that Brown will face two felony assault charges for the beating he gave the pop star:

After being charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office with two felonies, R&B singer Chris Brown, 19, did not enter a plea at his arraignment hearing Thursday. His attorney, Mark Geragos, asked for and was granted a continuance until April 6.
The charges, one count each of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and making criminal threats, could result in a sentence ranging from probation to four years and eight months in state prison, district attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.

Mark Geragos? Guilty!

Brown did not enter a plea at his arraignment.

With these charges, the message sent by all of Brown’s supporters that physical abuse can somehow be justified is — at least a little — countered by the fact that the state of California says you can’t get away with beating your girlfriend up, even if she refuses to press charges.

TMZ reports (take it at face value) that Chris went out partying last night after court.

Update: CNN reports:

Singer Rihanna, through her lawyer, asked a judge Thursday not to prohibit her boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, from having contact with her while he faces felony charges of assaulting her.

The request was granted.

Via / USA Today

Rihanna and Chris Brown Back Together, Enter the Wolves

2:09 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Celebrities|Controversia|society|Women · 4 Comments

5 Mar 2009

People.com reported last week that pop superstar Rihanna has reunited with boyfriend Chris Brown, accused of leaving the singer bruised and bloodied after a brutal domestic violence incident. While this in and of itself might not be shocking to some of us — battered women often return to their victimizers for a variety of reasons — what is shocking is the reaction online. Take this one for instance:

“Their relationship is not worth losing just because he physically abused her“…What? Did you see those photos?

According to this guy, “the devil” is behind the abuse, which represents “a boost to Rihanna’s career”. Do you really believe that?

I decided to post the video above because the gentlemen speaking in it, sadly, seems to reflect the opinions of thousands of Internet users, as there are thousands of comments found all over YouTube on videos related to the incident justifying the abuse. They range from on the “light” side from “she must have done something to provoke him” to the unthinkable “dumb bitch deserved it”.

What is wrong with people? I find this to be an outrage (actually I feel much more than that but am self-censoring) and unfortunately the reconciliation is only going to bring on more disgusting comments such as these. Think “if she was so abused, why did she go back?” People really need to get schooled on domestic violence and simple respect for other human beings before commenting online.

The Newest Face of Domestic Violence is a Superstar

7:22 am By la Macha · Celebrities|Justice|society|Women · Comments Off

11 Feb 2009

The saga of domestic abuse for superstar Rihanna apparently all started this past weekend with a fight and then some death threats which were coming from her boyfriend Chris Brown.

They began squabbling after leaving Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy party late Saturday. Shortly after midnight, things blew up. Brown pulled his silver Lamborghini to the side of a street in L.A.’s Hancock Park neighborhood. That’s when, per the source, Rihanna grabbed the car keys and tossed them out the window, sending Brown into a rage.

He tried in vain to find the keys, then came back to the car, put his hands around her neck and, according to the insider, said, “I’m going to kill you!”

According to reports, Rihanna was beaten unconscious, and when she awoke, severely injured, was taken to the hospital after someone called 911. Reports are sketchy and conflicting, but The Huffington Post, which is doing a good job of compiling all of the information, has published accounts that the singer was bloody and exhibited bite marks.

Chris Brown turned himself in on Sunday and is being held on $50,000 bail. A party planned for Rihanna’s 21st birthday has been cancelled, as has an upcoming concert in Malaysia. Brown has also lost a contract with Wrigley’s gum as a result of the incident.

Rihanna is reportedly cooperating with police on the case, according to the L.A. Times.

Via / The Huffington Post, multiple sources

This Year In the Dominican Republic, At Least 102 Mujeres Have been Killed by Partners

12:22 pm By Maegan La Mala · Dominican Republic|Dominicans|Women · Comments Off

13 Nov 2008

The year is not quite over yet statistics coming out of the Dominican Republic show that so far this year (through to September), 102 women have been killed by their partners. 154 women in all have been recorded as being murdered in the Caribbean nation. The sad thing that is never recorded in statistics is the number of incidents of violence against mujeres that are never recorded, that are covered up yet reverberate through communities in silence.

In response, the state has set up 14 centers throughout the country to deal with familial violence. Yet the state also is taking an almost threatening approach to community movements inside DR who have taken their struggle to the streets in search of justice and a fundamental change in how women’s lives are valued.

adamés Jiménez, Procurador General…advirtió que todo aquel que altere el orden público será sometido a la justicia.

In other words, we’ll take care of the problem just don’t disturb public order, as if violence against women and the threat that hangs too often over the lives of women isn’t a disturbance enough.

Via / Panorama Diario, Remolacha

Venezuela : Big on Promoting Beauty Queens Not So Big At Protecting The Other Mujeres

11:19 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Venezuela|Women · Comments Off

18 Jul 2008

Venezuela is known for its record number of beauty queens and schools that churn them out like an assembly line. What Venezuela is not known for is protecting the lives of the rest of it’s female population. Amnesty International issued a report that said that the country’s making laws that protect women from familial and spousal abuse isn’t enough, especially if the state isn’t going to enforce it.

Amnesty International’s Americas Programme Deputy Director, Guadalupe Marengo, said:
‘The 2007 Venezuelan law to protect women from violence is an example for the rest of the region but it will be useless for women unless it’s fully implemented.
‘Implementation of the law means more shelters, special tribunals and training for those who have to deal with these crimes.’

Juan Luis Guerra and Gilberto Santa Rosa: Advocates Against Gender Violence

3:17 pm By Maegan La Mala · Activism|Celebrities|Dominican Republic|Latin America|society · 1 Comment

19 Dec 2007

According to the head of Women’s Issue of the Dominican Republic, 160 women died of domestic violence related crimes in the Caribbean nation between the months of January and October 2007. In Puerto Rico, the figure is smaller: 18 deaths. In order to call more attention to this epidemic, two of the PR and DR’s most well-knowns are coming out on behalf of victims of domestic violence:

Dominican singer songwriter Juan Luis Guerra and Puerto Rican salsero Gilberto Santa Rosa will be, among other artists, protagonists of the serán, entre otros artistas, los protagonistas de la campaña “Pégale a la pared” campaign, an initiative against violence towards women in their respective countries, which was introduced today in Santo Domingo.

The first phase of the campaign will be made of up of two 30 second advertising spots starring Guerra and Santa Rosa, which will be shown on television and broadcast on the radio in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

While the initiative is to be applauded, they could have come up with a better name (which was inspired by a song by Reyli Barba). “Hit the Wall”…no, don’t hit anything. Get some help with your violent temperament instead.

Other stars will also participate, among them Reyli himself, puertorriqueño Joseph Fonseca and dominicanos Andy Andy, Wason Brazobán and Raymond Pozo.

Via / El Universal (Venezuela)

Mexico passes landmark domestic violence law

3:14 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Justice|mexico|Women · 2 Comments

2 Feb 2007

K.Rape_illus.jpg Mexican president Felipe Calderón announced yesterday that he will be “unstoppable before the issue of gender violence”, as he declared the passage of the first federal domestic violence legislation for the country:

The law — enacted with its publication in the federal register — does not drastically change how violators are currently punished. But it symbolically underscores the government’s recognition of a scourge that is widespread but often ignored in this traditionally macho society.

Officially, the law is the first federal measure combatting domestic violence and other abuse against women, though similar statues were already on the books in many cities and states.

Spanish city opens shelter for abused men

4:25 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Family|society|Spain · Comments Off

20 Oct 2006

The Spanish city of León is opening up Spain’s first shelter for male victims of domestic violence, and “positive discrimination” (affirmative action), according to 20 Minutos. The center will also house men who are separated or divorced and having a hard time making it:

The first center will open in León, and the project has a budget of 1.5 million euros.

There are also plans to open other similar centers in Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Madrid, Murcia, Cádiz and Sevilla, depending on projects supported by various support groups for separated fathers throughout Spain.

According to the Centristas group, the organization in charge of the shelter, the centers will provide housing, legal help, professional development programs and a business center for residents.

Earlier this month, Spain’s constitutional tribunal admitted debate on whether or not domestic violence laws in the country discriminate against men.

A few Spanish sites are popping up on the internet which claim to support abused men and denounce feminism.

Meanwhile, to date, 59 women have died in Spain at the hands of their partner or ex partner this year.

Via / 20 Minutos and Instituto de la Mujer

Latino Men and Women Speaking Out Against Domestic Violence

16 Oct 2006

This month is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and while stats say that 1 out of 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, according to the Denver-based National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, not many in the Latino community are talking about it. One study found higher levels of partner abuse among Latinos than in white populations. On the grassroots level across the country, men and woman are hitting the streets in their respective communities to bring attention to the issue. For example in the predominantly Dominican community of Washington Heights, NYC, hundreds of people march, some of the women in wedding gowns, to remember the death of Gladys Ricart.

Violence Against Women in Peru

11:47 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Family|Justice|Peru|Women · Comments Off

26 Jul 2006

According to a post up on Feministing yesterday, violence against women in Peru has reached epidemic proportions. In some parts of the nation well over half the women report being abused physically and/or sexually. Some of the causes are related to poverty and a justice system that does not punish offenders.

Sexual violence against women in Peru is now so bad that Peru’s President-elect Alan Garcia, who takes office Friday, made it one of his central campaign issues and has vowed to tackle the problem and give women a greater say in government.

Too bad it takes so many women being hurt to make a head of state take notice. Let’s see if Alan Garcia will be all talk.

Via / Feministing
Image Via / BBC Mundo

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