Rockwall couple start media campaign against family violence

When Rockwall resident J.J. Smith was 10 years old, he witnessed his abusive father shoot and kill his mother and then turn the gun on himself and commit suicide.

This tragedy was the culmination of several years worth of abuse, Smith said, during which his father often beat his mom in Los Angeles; stalked them across the country twice, after she fled and divorced him in Miami; frequently threatened, and then finally murdered her, after breaking into their small apartment in Denver in 1958..

Although he jumped out of bed and tried to wrestle the gun away from his father to protect his mom, Smith remembered, there was really nothing he could do.

“I was just too small to stop him,” he said. “He just pushed me down, and all I could do was watch.”

Today, however, forty eight years later, Smith said it’s a different story. Now that he’s grown and has worked either in or with the media for nearly 30 years, he can and wants to do something about assisting other victims of family violence.

“It’s too late to help my own mom,” he said, “But we can help others.”

That’s why he and his wife, Roxana, plus several other family violence survivors, media professionals, crime victim advocates and volunteers from across DFW have organized the non-profit Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation — in memory of his mother.

They want to teach the millions of family violence victims across the U.S. what to do and whom to call for help when a family member, dating partner or caregiver is hurting or threatening them.

Together, through the Foundation, they are launching a DFW-wide and soon nationwide campaign against family violence — including domestic violence, teen dating violence, sexual assaults, child abuse/neglect, elder abuse and even family pet abuse — but from a much needed and different angle than women’s shelters and others have taken, he explained.

Rather than helping victims individually with shelter, counseling, etc., Smith said he is using his 30 years of professional experience in advertising, public relations and political campaigning to direct efforts to utilize the media, internet, special events and other community activities to increase public awareness about the widespread problem, teach people what to do and where to get help, plus campaign aggressively against it.

“If we’re ever going to truly reduce, prevent and stop family violence crimes, the one thing which most all law enforcement and victim advocates agree is necessary is increased awareness of the problem, and then promoting solutions for it,” Smith said.

“Since I’ve had the good fortune to work with such leading media companies as CBS Radio, Dallas Cowboys Radio and Time Warner Cable TV, with clients like Exxon, Macy’s and Southwest Airlines, I know something about how to use radio, TV, newspapers and the internet to achieve these objectives.”

According to Smith, help is available for many victims from many different sources, but victim assistance agencies rarely have either the resources or professional public relations know-how to promote their valuable services.

“Consequently too few victims know how to get the assistance when they need it. We plan change all that,” he said.

Following in the footsteps of such well-known educational organizations as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and its Race for the Cure, plus MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), the Foundation has begun partnering with media, corporations and crime victim organizations to launch their media campaigns across the Metroplex, to support and promote the efforts of women’s shelters, victim advocates and law enforcement.

During the past six months, they’ve acquired financial support from CBS Radio stations, Verizon Wireless, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, Baylor Rehabilitation System and ReMax Realtors. They’ve joined the Dallas County Crime Victims Council, Dallas Domestic Violence Task Force, Dallas County Sexual Assault Coalition and Collin County Council On Family Violence.

Then just a few months ago, Smith and his wife also helped organize the new Rockwall County Coalition Against Family Violence, which meets monthly and includes over 30 different professionals from across the County from law enforcement, criminal justice, government, education, health care, social services, the clergy and community volunteer organizations.

“Nearly 500 family violence cases required police involvement in Rockwall County in 2006,” he said. “They estimate it was more like 2,000, since less than 25 percent are reported nationwide. We need to reduce that considerably.

“So many millions of women, teens, children and men are being physically and sexually assaulted - in Rockwall, across DFW and nationwide - by their spouses, exes, dating partners and other family members. Yet, because the hitting, slapping and shoving is committed in secret, most victims seem to think that it’s only happening to them. The truth is that it’s not.

“According to the US Surgeon General, family violence has exploded under the general public’s radar to become a full-blown public health crisis of epidemic proportions,” he continued.

“Because the victims - mostly females and children, according to police reports — are either too afraid or embarrassed to tell anybody, they feel alone. If only they could realize that thousands of family members, friends, professionals and volunteers nationwide really do care about them and want to help.

“That’s where the media campaign comes in,” Smith added, “And will be of tremendous benefit to millions of people.”

But he realizes they face quite a challenge and uphill struggle in what has become our very violent society.

“We want to add to what the women’s shelter movement has already established. Right now, for instance, anyone who either is a victim of family violence or concerned for someone else can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE for free confidential advice, 24/7, 365 days of the year. That’s a wonderful resource that more people need to know about,” Smith said.

“Unfortunately so many public attitudes and public policies which basically condone family violence must be changed, but together we can and will make a difference,” he said. “Just look at all of the good that has been accomplished with campaigns against breast cancer, drunken driving, smoking and more.”

Looking forward, Smith said they will soon be starting a live, call-in, talk radio show called “Family Violence Epidemic” every Saturday afternoon on Dallas talk radio station “The Word” 100.7 FM. Because they must purchase the airtime, he’s seeking more advertising sponsors and donations now to afford it. They’re working with TV and radio stations to produce and start airing public service announcements promoting local women’s shelters. They’ve also scheduled their 2007 Dallas “Race To Prevent Family Violence” 5K family fitness walk for May 12 to raise money for their public awareness campaigns, women’s shelters and victim assistance funds.

Local volunteers are needed to assist with the Rockwall Coalition Against Family Violence, as well as the Lillian Smith Family Violence Foundation. More information is available at 214-256-4071. For further information, visit lilliansmith.org.

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