Domestic Violence Survivor Speaks Out About How Her Daughter was Murdered by her Boyfriend and How Domestic Violence Services Could Have Saved Her Life
Austin, Texas – The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) is teaming up with legislators and thousands of Texans to support full funding for family violence services.
Today, thousands of postcards are being delivered to legislators to show how important full funding is for family violence programs. Advocates, allies and survivors of family violence use the color purple to symbolize their work to end violence within families.
Rep. Sylvester Turner, Vice Chairman of House Appropriations, Brazos County District Attorney Jarvis Parsons and Catherine Shellman whose daughter Tiffanie was murdered in a domestic violence homicide joined Gloria Terry CEO of TCFV at a news conference at the Capitol.
“Raising awareness about domestic violence and making sure funding is a priority– is important to me and the Texas Legislature,” said Rep. Sylvester Turner, Vice Chairman of House Appropriations.
“Full funding is especially critical to ensure victims of domestic violence have a safety net,” said Gloria A. Terry, President of TCFV. “We are blessed that we have such strong support from legislators advocating for victims of domestic violence and we especially want to thank Senator Jane Nelson and Rep. Sylvester Turner for their outstanding leadership on this life and death issue.”
“I’m proud to participate in the Purple Postcard Project for the fifth session in a row. Our state’s commitment to victims of family violence continues this session, and I stand with each of Texas’ 5 million lifetime victims of family violence, the over 84,000 people served in family violence centers last year alone, and the ones who love and support them. We will prioritize funding for family violence services, said Senator Jane Nelson, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.”
Full funding is important to try and prevent domestic violence murders like 23-year-old Tiffanie Perry who was shot to death by her ex-boyfriend, Kenny Trevino, in September 2010. She was attending Texas State University in San Marcos and getting ready to leave her boyfriend for good when he killed her and then killed himself.
Her mom, Catherine Shellman says, “I did not know about the domestic violence until it was too late when I found and read Tiffanies’ journal and I don’t want that to happen to another mom or dad, so I speak out to urge people to talk about domestic violence and realize that anyone can be a victim and we must do all we can to recognize the signs and get help before it is too late.”
“It is imperative that we fully fund family violence services to help prevent and eliminate this serious crime, said Jarvis Parsons, District Attorney for Brazos County in Bryan-College Station.”
The purple postcards come from people across Texas as a strong statement to legislators to fully fund family violence. Members of TCFV will deliver thousands of postcards to legislators throughout the State Capitol.
For more information about the purple postcard campaign you can log onto www.tcfv.org
Texas Council on Family Violence is the only 501(c) 3 nonprofit coalition in Texas dedicated solely to creating safer communities and freedom from family violence. With a state-wide reach and direct local impact, TCFV, with the collective strength of more than 1000 members, shapes public policy, equips service providers, and initiates strategic prevention efforts. Visit us online at http://www.tcfv.org/