Juneau Empire: Marching Toward Respect

News Article

By Klas Stople

One footstep was for Mary Williams and her lifetime restraining order against the father of one of her children.

One footstep was for the grandfather of Gov. Sean Parnell, an alcoholic whose son moved beyond the abuse to raise his family in a loving environment.

There also were footsteps for the rape victims, who in Alaska number two and a half times the national average.

Parnell led the Wednesday march from the Capitol to Marine Park with supporters of the campaign Alaskans Choose Respect. The march kicked off a series of statewide events to raise awareness of the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska.

"Alaskans from Juneau, thank you for gathering," Parnell said from the Capitol steps. "You are gathering with 17 other communities today to say 'enough of the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault.' Thank you for joining us today."

Parnell said those in attendance were not just there to raise awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault, but were there to help the state turn the corner.

"We are here to step out of bondage and despair and step into freedom together. We are here to release people from the shame and guilt of domestic violence and sexual assault and we are here to be their voice," Parnell said.

As footsteps began, engines roared to life and a motorcade led what would stretch to be a block-long throng of marchers.

"We like to show as a club we are against violence towards women," said Steve 'Shiner' Burkhouse, President of the Southeast Alaska Panhandlers Motorcycle Club. "That we are about respect towards women; that everyone should be. Do unto others as you wish to be done unto."

"It is going to take more than the laws, more than money from the government; it's going to take each of us committed to ending domestic violence and domestic assault in this state," Parnell said. "I see the commitment here and throughout the state."

One footstep was for the many volunteer and nonprofit organizations joined behind the procession. Another footstep was for the many law enforcement officers across the state.

"For the department it is extremely important," said Ketchikan-based State Trooper Lt. Rodney Dial. "One of our biggest enforcement problems in the state is domestic violence and sexual assault. We support what the governor is trying to do to address these problems."

One footstep was for the 12 families currently staying at Juneau's AWARE shelter and the 5,700 nights of safe shelter provided during the last fiscal year for women and children in Juneau. Another footstep was for the 54 accompaniments to the hospital for sexual assault exams. There was yet another for the statistics that make Alaska a leader in the nation in rates of rape, child sexual assault and men killing women.

"The reality is, whether we know it or not, we all know someone who has been a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault," said AWARE executive director Saralyn Tabachnick. "Living a peaceful life is profoundly rewarding. Living a life with abuse or being abusive is such a hardship."

One footstep was for House Bill 307, which Parnell signed at the march's end in Marine Park. The legislation would empower magistrate and district court judges to grant protective orders in cases of sexual assault, in addition to domestic violence and stalking.

"I think the time has well come," said long-time Juneau resident Andrea Doll. "It should have been here about 30 years ago."

All of the footsteps were for the victims, echoing the importance of their knowing that people care.

"This is crucial," said Michaela Fowler, assistant in Constituent Relations in the governor's office. "This affects all Alaskans and how we keep our communities strong and our families healthy. I think everyone in Alaska knows someone who has been affected by domestic violence."

With music from The Alaska String Band playing in the background, Parnell said, "My grandfather was abusive in his home relationships but my father chose a different path. ... What that does is it tells me it is possible to change, to break that cycle in families and move forward. I want to make sure our kids and their kids don't have to face what we are facing right now."

Source