Hope’s Door appreciates the public outcry after viewing the hotel elevator surveillance video which forced the Baltimore Ravens to release Ray Rice, a New Rochelle native, and the NFL to indefinitely suspend him. Clearly, more should have been done sooner. There must be zero tolerance of intimate partner abuse.
In addition, many media outlets, including social media, broadcast and print, seem to question why Janay Rice would stay with him given how he treated her. As Executive Director of Hope’s Door, an organization that has worked with thousands of domestic violence victims over the years, I can’t tell you specifically why she or any other victim stays with a violent partner, as there are as many reasons as there are victims. However, in our support groups, we hear women state that they stayed because they wanted: a father for their children; the relationship they had in the beginning; or to believe his apologies and promises to never do it again. Others stayed or returned after leaving because they faced enormous financial barriers or the very real threat of escalating violence. In fact, 75% of domestic violence homicide victims are murdered after leaving or announcing a serious intention to do so.
The NFL should implement and strictly enforce a zero tolerance intimate partner abuse conduct policy. The public must do their part not to just look the other way when someone they like or admire is abusive. We must continue to hold businesses, celebrities, friends and family members accountable. Together we can end domestic violence.
For more information on domestic violence or the warning signs, go to www.HopesDoorNY.org or call our hotline 888.438.8700 for 24/7 help.
Sincerely,
CarLa Horton
Hope’s Door
Executive Director
