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The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

This week Ms. Angelina Jolie spoke up about the urgency and importance of the Violence Against Women Act.

She could not have spoken more truthful words regarding the need for this act as it relates to victims of domestic abuse. She stated: “[Domestic abuse victims] still carry the pain and trauma of their abuse.”


My mother is a victim of domestic abuse. The abuse was at the hands of my own father, Mike Rinder. My mom is in literal pain every day of her life because of his attack. That pain and trauma Ms. Jolie spoke of is real.


And domestic abuse is rarely contained to just one victim. In my case, I was a witness to my father’s attack on my mother. It took me a long time to speak up about his abuse to try not only to get justice for my mom, but to raise awareness of this issue.


When Ms. Jolie spoke of those “who are terrified and suffering at this moment”— in relation to domestic violence—this is too real. To know that right now, as I write, there are children who themselves are being abused and/or live in an abusive home is abhorrent to me.


Each of us can make a difference by supporting domestic violence victims and demanding that justice be affected against perpetrators of domestic abuse like my father, Mike Rinder.


Thank you.



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