 |
| Wilson and Erin Brockovich Aim to Protect Stalking Victims |
July 08, 2003 |
| |
| Washington, DC — Congresswoman Heather Wilson joined forces today with Lifetime Television and Erin Brockovich to heighten awareness about stalking and its effect on victims and their families. Wilson today introduced a Congressional resolution to establish January as National Stalking Awareness Month. One of Wilson`s constituents, Peggy Klinke, was killed last January by an ex-boyfriend who terrorized her for months.
Members of Klinke`s family and Wilson will appear on "Final Justice With Erin Brokovich" on the Lifetime network show`s season finale. Lifetime is uncertain when exactly the show will air, but it`s expected to appear on the network in late August or early September. Most of the show was taped today in a series of briefings, meetings, interviews, and a floor-speech delivered by Wilson.
"It`s time that we bring the issue of stalking and the dangers that surround it to the forefront. Stalking victims are all too often forced to take drastic measures to protect themselves," says Wilson. "This is an important issue that`s too easy to forget, unless it happens to you or someone you know. That`s something Peggy Klinke`s family and friends learned the hard way."
Brockovich added, "Peggy Klinke could not get justice and did not deserve to die. I am here today on behalf of Lifetime Television to speak for the millions of people that are being victimized by stalkers and to do whatever I can to close the loopholes in the system."
Participating in today`s taping were family members of Margaret "Peggy" Klinke, who was stalked and ultimately murdered by her ex-boyfriend. Peggy`s story hit especially hard in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she had lived during college. Wilson was made aware of Peggy`s story through the diligent efforts of her family and friends and advocacy groups.
To further help improve the recognition of and response to stalking cases, Lifetime and LMNO Productions are producing a special video, "Stalking: Real Fear, Real Crime," that will be distributed to law enforcement officials around the country. The video also will be streamed on Lifetimetv.com
"The tragic death of Peggy Klinke underscores the urgent need to respond more effectively to stalking victims," said Susan Herman, executive director of the National Center of Victims of Crime. "We join Peggy`s family and friends, as well as Congresswoman Heather Wilson, Lifetime Television, and Erin Brockovich in seeking to make this loss a catalyst for meaningful change."
"We need to promote education and urge national and community organizations, businesses in the private sector, and the media to promote awareness of the problem. Lifetime TV, Erin Brockovich, and the National Center for Victims of Crime have worked hard to raise awareness in the Congress and I`m proud to help spearhead their efforts," concluded Wilson.
The statistics demonstrate the importance of this new focus and initiative:
· An estimated 1,006,970 women and 370,990 men are stalked annually in the United States; the majority of victims are stalked by someone who is not a stranger to them. [Tjaden & Thonnes. (1998) "Stalking in America," NIJ.]
· 81% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also physically assaulted by that partner [Tjaden & Thonnes. (1998) "Stalking in America," NIJ.]; 76% of women killed by an intimate partner had been stalked by that intimate partner [McFarlane et al. (1990). "Stalking and Intimate Partner Femicide," Homicide Studies.]
· Stalking victims are forced to take drastic measures to protect themselves such as relocating, changing their address, changing their identities, changing jobs, and obtaining protection orders. [Tjaden & Thonnes. (1998) "Stalking in America," NIJ.]
-END- |
|
|
|