I was trying to figure out what inspired this journal, I was going to write about the first time I saw the "Central Park Joggers" book on April 19, and how profound that was being as that was the day she was attacked; but, that isn't the real reason. The reason has been buried inside me for a couple of years, gnawing and bubbling up now and then.
The real inspiration for this blog is a woman named Gillian Hadley. This blog is dedicated to her, and to the women who fight violence in their lives everyday.
Gillian Hadley was a young woman who lived in Ontario Canada, a daughter, a mother, a girlfriend and estranged wife, who was desperatly stuggling to get away from her abusive husband.
The horror of what happened to Gillian on a bright June morning in 2000 is imprinted indelibly on my mind. Gillian tried on several occasions to get help from the 'system'. Her estranged husband Ralph had assaulted her and their disabled son on several occasions. Gillian called the police, had him removed from the home, and there was a court order against him to stay away from her. So why is she dead now?
On that bright June morning he came to her home; 3 calls to 911 by the neighbours went unanswered until it was too late.
In an effort to save her babys life, Gillian ran naked into the street with her child in her arms begging neighours to take him and keep him safe. Her husband grabbed her and dragged her screaming, back into the house where he shot and killed her.
I didn't know this young woman personally. I only came to know her after death. When I close my eyes and try to see what this women felt just before her death the horror of it overwhelms me. I hope it also overwhelms the readers of this blog. We all, both men and women, must stand together to stop this terror against the women of our society.
Here is a place that has some very interesting ideas to help end the slaughter. The White Ribbon Campaign. http://www.whiteribbon.ca/
Over time this blog will hopefully entertain, provoke and annoy readers, but most of all it will reflect A Moment In My Life.
Posted by Dar... at May 2, 2003 03:33 PM