More than 50 crime survivors from Cleveland packed a bus Monday morning headed to Washington, D.C., to call for more support for victims of crime.
They will join thousands of others in the Crime Survivors Speak March on Washington today and tomorrow to advocate for policy changes and more resources for crime victims.
In past years, local advocates and survivors traveled to Columbus to push for policy change, said Brenda Glass, founder and CEO of the Brenda Glass Trauma Center, one of 54 trauma recovery centers in the country.
But this year, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, an organization under the Alliance for Safety and Justice, organized the national march, rally and candlelight vigil for the first time, bringing together more than 3,000 people on Tuesday to demand that survivors’ needs be centered in policies. Some will talk to U.S. representatives and senators, sharing personal stories and asking for policy change.
Crime victims want more legal protections
Glass said that by speaking out about their experiences, the participants will help lawmakers understand what survivors and crime victims have been through and what they need in order to heal. She said marching alongside thousands of other survivors will be an empowering experience.
“This is a healing opportunity,” Glass said. “When you experience something and nothing is done, you can wallow in self-pity, or you can get up and do something about it. And so we choose to get up and do something about it, to make sure that what happened with us or didn’t happen with us doesn’t repeat itself.”
Advocates are asking lawmakers to help fund and support community-based organizations that help crime victims and the opening of more trauma recovery centers so that they are available in every state.
They are also asking for legal protections that would allow survivors to take time from work without losing their jobs and end their leases early if they need to move in order to be safe. And for the federal government to provide more financial support to survivors, along with several other requests outlined in the national alliance’s policy platform.
The national march commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Victims of Crime Act, the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, and the 20th anniversary of the Crime Victims Rights Act.
The goal is to “elevate the voices of crime survivors, who have long been excluded from critical policy discussions,” the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice organization said in a news release.
‘When survivors speak, change happens’
When Tomeka Ewing was around 12 years old, she lost a friend to gun violence. At 22, she lost another, and even witnessed the friend take her last breath. And almost four years ago, her little cousin was killed.
Today, Ewing is CEO of A Useful Vessel Counseling and Resources, drawing on her own experiences to help others. She helped organize the Cleveland bus trip.
“It doesn’t matter what walk of life you come from, what’s your socioeconomic status, anybody, and everybody, can be victimized,” she said. “And a lot of people don’t speak up or do anything about it until it’s done to them or a family member. But it’s an epidemic worldwide, so it needs to be addressed worldwide.”
On Monday morning, Ewing climbed aboard the already full bus.
“Good morning,” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Good morning!” they responded in unison.
Fifty-one survivors, most of them women, took up 55 of the seats. Snacks and other essentials for their six-hour trip were piled in the first two rows.
“When survivors speak,” Ewing called out.
“Change happens!” the others responded, chanting the Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice slogan.
