For Immediate Release: May 7, 2018
Contact: Mariah Wineski, (225) 752-1296
Baton Rouge, LA – May 7, 2018 – Advocates from across Louisiana will gather at the State Capitol at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 9th, to encourage legislators to support laws designed to strengthen protections for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.
This is the seventh annual Day at the Capitol, hosted by the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) and the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault (LaFASA). LCADV and LaFASA will have a display table in the Rotunda of the Louisiana State Capitol building from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Advocates and supporters will be speaking with legislators throughout the day to discuss domestic and sexual violence in Louisiana and how legislation can affect programs, advocates, and survivors.
The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) has been heavily involved in efforts to pass several bills expanding protections for victims of violence across Louisiana. That package of bills includes SB 231 by Senator J.P. Morrell (D-New Orleans), which creates a statewide process for transferring firearms from domestic violence offenders, and HB 207 by Representative Larry Bagley (R-Stonewall), which requires proof of service of protective orders to be transmitted to the Louisiana Protective Order Registry.
Advocates say this package of bills will lead to a reduction of domestic violence homicides in Louisiana. “We have made great strides in protecting domestic violence survivors in recent years,” said Mariah Wineski, LCADV Executive Director. “But the fact remains that Louisiana women are killed at a rate twice the national average. If we are serious about saving the lives of domestic violence survivors, we must prioritize the enforcement of firearm prohibitions and protection orders.”
On the evening of May 8th, the coalitions will host a joint legislative reception to honor champions and allies in the movement to end domestic violence and sexual assault. Several legislators, advocates, and organizations will be honored for their efforts. “We are proud of the efforts of Louisiana’s legislators in recent years to take a stand against domestic and sexual violence,” said Wineski. “We look forward to an evening of celebration to honor those champions and the many advocates across the state who work tirelessly to support survivors each day.”
For more information on these events, visit https://lcadv.org.
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The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (LCADV) is a statewide network of programs, organizations, and individuals who share the goal of ending domestic violence in Louisiana. LCADV is dedicated to bringing about change in our institutions, laws, politics, attitudes, and beliefs which will allow individuals to live free of violence. For more information, visit www.lcadv.org.
