Domestic Violence ‘Hides in Plain Sight’

By ARIANA MIGLINO

Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez on Thursday branded domestic violence as a “silent killer”, adding that fatalities connected to the problem have held steady despite efforts to combat it.

According to Gonzalez, there are more than 10,000 cases of domestic violence in Brooklyn every year.

His comments came during a press conference held at the Manhattan Family Justice Center by First Lady of New York Chirlane McCray, announcing NYC Hope “the first of its kind” program to help victims gain access to information and resources.

“Domestic violence is not a women’s issue, it’s an everyone issue,” said McCray, “Too long, too many members of our society have participated in a pattern on shaming the survivor and protecting the abuser.”

NYC Hope is a web-based portal providing a hotline, addresses and phone numbers to the Family Justice Centers, neighborhood services which provides a search engine to narrow your borough, services needed, and the language you speak, and additional information to what domestic violence is defined as.

Members of this organization have pinned domestic violence as an issue that has been pushed to the side in New York, which is why McCray as well as the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human services Dr. Herminia Palacio have pushed for this campaign.

“This is a problem that often hides in plain sight, but it’s everywhere, and so many people still don’t talk about it.” Palacio said. “When we have a federal administration attacking immigrants, transgender individuals, and people of color, making so many people feel unsafe about stepping forward for help.”

Across all five boroughs, at least 1/3 of the city shelter population have experienced domestic violence, according to McCray. These shelters do provide limited services, which is why McCray continues to advocate for a place for victims to go in times of crisis.

Photo of Chirlane McCray by Ariana Miglino