VIGIL AT CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN’S OFFICE IN PATCHOGUE TO ADDRESS NEEDS FOR IMMIGRANT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!
Patchogue, NY, Nonprofit Organizations come together on October End Domestic Violence Awareness Month to rally for Immigrant victims of violence. “IMMIGRANT SURVIVORS DESERVE THE SAME RESPECT AND ACCESS TO SERVICES AS OTHERS!”
When: Thursday, October 24th, 2019
Where: 31 Oak St. Patchogue NY
Time: 6:00pm
Who: SEPA Mujer Inc., Empire Justice Center, Long Island Language Advocates Coalition, VIBS Agency, the Women’s Diversity Network, S.T.R.O.N.G YOUTH & E.C.L.I
The theme of the night will be #YoSiTeCreo which roughly translates to “I do believe you,” shedding light on the many obstacles victims face such as not being believed when coming forward. For immigrants, language barriers, immigration, lack of access to services and discrimination!
Survivors and allies will gather outside the office of Republican Congressman Lee Zeldin asking for support for the overdue extension and re authorization of V.A.W.A. the violence against women’s federal act that provides funding and fundamental support to domestic violence agencies and shelters nationwide. “The community and domestic violence agencies on Long Island that will suffer if the legislation does not pass both chambers soon as it will expire on February 2020,” Executive Director of SEPA Mujer Martha Maffei says.
The rally also calls on the local U.S Congressman, to stand with all victims of violence and abuse including the undocumented both on Long Island and at the border. Organizations are asking the Congressman to address the humanitarian crisis at the border by securing language access in vetting refugees and asylees fleeing from violence and condemning the inappropriate use of Google Translate by immigration officials vetting refugee applications!
Martha Maffei, Executive Director at SEPA Mujer adds “We are proud to stand behind our immigrant community who continues to be underrepresented and in the shadows, we hope the vigil creates awareness that all immigrant victims of violence and trauma deserve to be believed, receive adequate interpretation services and the same respect as others. We want our congressman to do right by the community he represents both documented and undocumented!”
The vigil will be led by testimonies of immigrant survivors. The organizations also plan on delivering a letter to the Congressman addressing the vigil.
###
SEPA Mujer inc. is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit Organization.
www.sepamujer.org | 6319802555
Articles for reference:
https://www.newsday.com/long-
