Proclamation States Deerfield 'Not Immune' To Domestic Violence

DEERFIELD, IL — Mayor Harriet Rosenthal recognized Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the work of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic in a proclamation at Monday night's meeting of the Deerfield Village Board.

"Whereas domestic violence is a serious crime that affects people of all races, age, gender and income levels, Deerfield residents are not immune," Rosenthal said.

The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed in October 1987 and designated such by Congress two years later. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, one in four women and one in seven men will be a victim of domestic abuse at some point of their lifetimes.

Ilana Forbes, a staff attorney for the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, talked about what her agency does in the North Shore following Rosenthal's proclamation.

"I'm here because the responsibility to acknowledge and fight domestic violence is very personal and falls on all of us," Forbes said. "What we know is that incidents of intimate partner violence skyrocket during lockdown orders and periods of economic insecurity."

The North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic was founded by Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and opened in 2015, providing "access to justice to those in need" according to its mission. Since then, the Clinic "continues to strategically meet the ever-changing needs of individuals and the greater community by expanding capacity, services offered, and geographic locations."

At a Sept. 29 Highland Park City Council meeting, Rotering also issued a proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, before being joined by representatives from A Safe Place, the City of Highland Park, the National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore, the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, and SHALVA.

"We know that as these incidents increase, access to necessary resources decrease," Forbes said at Monday night's Deerfield Village Board meeting.

According to Forbes, calls to the North Shore Suburban Legal Aid Clinic are up 44 percent during the pandemic. She said the clinic's domestic violence practice is averaging at least three in-takes per day.

"It's overwhelming for all of us, but we're so happy to be able to help all of these clients," Forbes said. "What we don't know is who is experiencing intimate partner violence and who can't reach us. Survivors are in all of our communities, and they may not know we are here and ready to believe them and help them."

In her proclamation, Rosenthal said that Domestic Violence Awareness Month is represented by the color purple "like the Purple Heart Medal," the color is meant to be a "symbol of peace, courage, survival, honor and dedication to domestic violence." She urged residents to wear purple in observation of the month.

"Domestic violence does not discriminate against any race, gender, age or socioeconomic status. It is here in Deerfield," Forbes said. "It affects our economy because women that call off work at higher rates. Women who are abused are cut off from shopping in our stores. More importantly, it affects our moral character."

To learn more about the North Shore Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, visit here.