Office of the Mayor
Proclamation
Lawrence, Kansas
WHEREAS: One in three teenagers, one in three women, and one in six men will experience domestic violence during their lifetime; and
WHEREAS: Millions of children are exposed to domestic violence in the United States every year; and
WHEREAS: Domestic violence includes verbal, emotional, economic, sexual, and physical abuse, and all forms of abuse carry long-term physical and mental health implications; and
WHEREAS: The effects of domestic violence reach far beyond its victims and perpetrators, causing disruption in our schools, places of work and worship, and neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS; During October 2016, The Willow Domestic Violence Center and other concerned agencies and groups in Lawrence sponsor and promote Domestic Violence Awareness Month to focus community-wide attention on abused women, men, and their children, and to promote support of shelters and community programs.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mike Amyx, Mayor of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, do hereby proclaim the month of October 2016, as
and urge all citizens to speak out against domestic and sexual violence, to support survivors of these heinous crimes, to encourage community leaders to hold offenders accountable, and to make prevention efforts a priority by hosting events, by creating policies at school and work, and by supporting and participating in programs designed to reduce and eventually eliminate domestic violence as a societal problem.