Anyone reading local headlines of late is painfully aware of the recent rash of domestic violence in the news. Coincidentally, October happens to be Domestic Violence Awareness Month. By second coincidence, last week also marked the passing of local activist Monica Erler at age 92. Ms. Erler was known for her 1972 founding of the first women’s shelter in the metro area, and indeed, in the entire nation. Her testimony to the effort of starting and maintaining this shelter through her organization, Women’s Awareness, can be read in Battered Women: Issues of Public Pollicy, a 1978 report of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. (Link unavailable due to government shutdown.) This report underscores the drastic lack of options a battered woman faced at that time, wherein she really had no constructive alternative to staying with her abuser.
We are fortunate to have Bridges to Safety located in room 140 of the ground floor of the Ramsey County Courthouse. Here, domestic violence victims (regardless of gender) can obtain legal and community assistance, including emergency referral to shelter service and assistance in seeking an Order for Protection. (After hours and weekend assistance can be found through the St. Paul Intervention Project.)
Perhaps almost as difficult as experiencing domestic violence firsthand is watching a friend or loved one struggle with such a difficult situation. Cornerstone is a local organization providing some answers to those “How can I help?” questions, as well as assistance for those seeking to bring heightened awareness of domestic violence to their communities.
