June 14th 2024.
Precious Wright, a resident of Chicago's Austin neighborhood, has bravely decided to speak out about her experiences with domestic violence. After enduring years of abuse, she has finally broken her silence and is sharing her story. Wright describes her ordeal as "extreme, extreme manipulation" and it took a lot of courage for her to come forward.
It wasn't until Wright took the brave step of seeking help that she was finally able to escape her abusive circumstances and build a support system. She recalls being initially enamored by her partner's seemingly perfect qualities. "He was everything I ever wanted in a man – financially responsible, took me on nice dates, and even traveled with me," she shared with CBS News. However, after about a year and a half, the relationship took a dark turn. Wright found herself trapped in a cycle of arguments, shouting matches, property destruction, and threats.
The survivor of domestic violence also accused her former partner of relentless stalking and harassment. From February 2020 to March 2021, Wright filed multiple police reports alleging that her abuser had broken her car window, demanded entry into her home, and even physically assaulted her by punching her and throwing her to the ground. "He also made between 50 and 75 email addresses just to contact me," she revealed. "He would call me from different numbers every time, and I would block him."
A report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February highlighted the use of technology as a common tactic for stalking. This can include phone calls, texts, emails, social media, or even photo messages. The CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey also sheds light on the alarming reality that millions of Americans are affected by sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence every year.
Despite obtaining a two-year Order of Protection, Wright's abuser continued to contact her and violate her personal space. After repeatedly taking him back, Wright made the courageous decision to leave everything behind and seek help. With the support of her loved ones, she was able to find a new place to live, a new job, and even a new car, reclaiming her independence.
Shocking statistics from the National Domestic Violence Hotline further highlight the urgency of this issue. In the United States, an average of 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner. And over a single year, more than 12 million women and men experience such abuse. Even more alarming, most female victims of intimate partner violence have been victimized by the same offender at staggeringly high rates across different age groups.
While therapist Gabrielle Molden-Carlwell acknowledges that victims of domestic violence often face unsatisfactory responses and skepticism when reporting to the police, Wright emphasizes the importance of being aware of available resources and not being afraid to reach out and seek help.
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