UC Law film screening to raise awareness about domestic violence

A one-day snapshot of the services provided by Ohio’s domestic violence (DV) programs tells a story. On September 9, 2021, Ohio’s DV programs served 2,456 victims with shelter or services including counseling, legal advocacy, and support groups; answered 770 crisis calls—an average of 32 crisis calls per hour; and educated 1,266 people through trainings addressing topics like domestic violence prevention and early intervention.* And 131 people died in 90 cases of domestic violence in 2021, a 20% increase over 2020.  Numbers like these are why the calls to end domestic violence get louder each day. Recognizing the gravity of domestic violence and in acknowledgement of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Jones Center and the Domestic Violence and Civil Protection Order Clinic at Cincinnati Law are hosting the event “And So I Stayed: A Film Screening and Panel Discussion”, 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, in Rm. 160 of the College (2925 Campus Green Drive). The event is free and open to the public but is limited to 75 people. As a result, registration is required.

“And So I Stayed” is an award-winning documentary about survivors of abuse fighting for their lives and spending years behind bars. These women paid a steep price with long prison sentences, lost time with loved ones, and painful memories. Formerly incarcerated survivor-advocate Kim Dadou Brown, who met her wife while incarcerated, is a driving force in the passage of New York’s Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA), a new law meant to prevent survivors from receiving harsh prison sentences for their acts of survival. Nikki Addimando, a mother of two young children, suffered the consequences when a judge didn’t follow the law’s guidelines. Tanisha Davis, a single mother who was ripped away from her son in 2013, is hopeful the new law is her way out of a harsh prison sentence.

Panel participants include: 

• Kim Dadou Brown, survivor of and activist for domestic violence and featured in the film And So I Stayed
• Katie Weber, Women Helping Women
• David Singleton, Director, Ohio Justice and Policy Center

View the movie trailer: And So I Stayed

* National Network to End Domestic Violence (2022). 16th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report. Washington, DC

Photo: istockphoto.com