Because we matter

Have you heard of the Violence Against Women Act?

It was originally passed here in the U.S. in 1994. It provides funding toward investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women. It comes up for renewal roughly every six years. In 2000 and 2005, it was renewed.

In April, 2012 the Senate voted to renew VAWA, but conservative Republicans in the House have fought it and countered that they will only pass the bill if certain provisions are removed. 

Which provisions? The ones that extend protections to gays, lesbians, American Indians and illegal immigrants.

And no, I'm not making that up.

Sit with that for a second.

Congress has not been able to reconcile their differences in the months since then, leaving the reauthorization in question. It has been 679 days since VAWA expired. It has been 183 since congress's last action on VAWA.

Meanwhile, every 2 minutes, someone in America is sexually assaulted.

Meanwhile, every day, 4 women in America die as a result of domestic violence.

The National Network to End Domestic Violence has made today a national day of action to pass VAWA 2012.

It only takes a few minutes to contact Congress and tell them how you feel about this important piece of legislation. Here are links to make it easy. The twitter tag is #PassVAWA2012. If you want to upload a picture of yourself with your message, you can do so on NNEDV's Facebook page.

Even if it's taken by your ten-year-old

daughter, in bad lighting, with a crappy camera.

Make your voice heard.

Speak out.