North Shore Leaders Join Forces Against Domestic Violence

SALEM, MA — Elected officials from across the North Shore joined Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker at Essex Tucker for a Joint Domestic Violence Roundtable to hear survivor stories and discuss work being done to support domestic violence victims and help prevention efforts.

The crowd in attendance included representatives from many domestic abuse prevention and support agencies, local law enforcement, and elected officials such as State Sen. Joan Lovely, State Rep. Thomas Walsh, Rep. Sally Kerans, Rep. Jennifer Armini, Rep. Hannah Bowen and Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger.

Walsh, Kerans, and Lovely spoke about bills they have introduced related to, respectively, combating human trafficking, providing flexible help for survivors, and eliminating the statute of limitations for reporting abuse.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a nationwide campaign to support survivors, educate the public, promote prevention, and take action.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, approximately 41 percent of women and 26 percent of men have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime.

"The most important thing about a day like this is to hear from survivors," Tucker said. "To those here today, we know that the work you do with victims every day doesn't necessarily make the headlines, but I know how difficult it is, and your work is appreciated."

Tucker recently released a guide, "You Are Not Alone: Reporting Domestic Abuse,”" which will be available in pamphlet form at police stations and other locations throughout Essex County, and can be found online here.

The guide is designed to help foster an understanding of domestic abuse, how to report and escape it, and how to access support resources.

"If you or a family member for whom you are responsible are in immediate danger, call 911 now," Tucker said. "Otherwise, if you or your family member have been the victim of domestic abuse, go to the police station in the city or town closest to where the incidenttook place and ask to speak to a police officer.

"Once you take that first step, you will find that you are not alone."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)