Manley Attends Citizens Against Abuse Rally

State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, attended Citizens Against Abuse’s 20th Annual Rally and March Against Abuse at the Joseph & Sarah Levy Center in Bolingbrook on October 11th. The event was organized by the Citizens Against Abuse committee members, including Chairperson Rev. Elmer Harris, and was sponsored by several local businesses and nonprofits. Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow was also in attendance and Assistant State’s Attorney Amie Simpson, who leads the Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit, was the guest speaker.

“Abuse comes in many different forms and it affects everyone, regardless of age and gender,” said Manley. “I’d like thank Citizens Against Abuse for the work they do to bring more attention to the real problems people face here in our community, and for their advocacy on behalf of those who find themselves as victims of abuse.”

Citizens Against Abuse’s mission is to raise awareness of the reality of abuse and inspire unified action toward its elimination and prevention while remembering victims, empowering survivors, and providing resources to those it affects. This year’s rally and march focused on “What is the New Face of Abuse? Anybody and Everybody,” and highlighted that men, women, the disabled, the elderly, children and LGBT+ individuals can be the victims of domestic abuse. Other examples of abuse include bullying, harassment, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, as well as technology abuse which includes cyber-attacks, unwanted sexting and reading emails or text messages without consent.

"Citizens Against Abuse's mission is to raise awareness of the reality of abuse and inspire unified action toward its elimination and prevention, while remembering victims that have gone through it,” said Rev. Harris. “That is what we did, and we awarded three scholarships to students that are survivors.”