Attorney’s Perspective on Domestic Violence

By Hugh V. Collins and Syreeta L. McNeal, CPA, JD

I know everyone is talking about the alleged domestic assault and battery that occurred between Chris Brown and Rihanna during the weekend of February 7 – 8, 2009. Recently, MTV, US Weekly and People magazine did specials or cover stories regarding the incident. Gossip organizations like Mediatakeout.com and TMZ.com all had their spin on what transpired. Many people are expressing outrage and taking sides. Some people have stated that Rihanna must have done something and deserved to get beat by Chris Brown while others believe that Chris Brown had no right whatsoever to lay a hand on Rihanna regardless of the argument between them. Well, domestic abuse is more common and more people in the U.S. and in the world have witnessed some form of domestic abuse in their lives or among their families. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics report in 2005, one in 320 households were affected by intimate partner violence. Also, they report that female victims are more likely to be victimized by intimates than male victims.

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Black Female Athlete Snubbed Victory in Olympics

In the 21st Century world of race-neutrality and color-blindness, it is hard to imagine that a record-breaking 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist, who unequivocally won a fight, is informed that she indeed lost -- the fact that a video evidence that documents her victory exists, notwithstanding. Nia Abdallah is the 2004 US Silver Medalist in Taekwondo. She is also the first woman from the United States to earn a medal in this sport since it became an official Olympic sport. In a qualifying match for the 2008 Olympics, Nia fought Diana Lopez - a fellow Olympian - and is believed to have won by a stretch. Upon the announcement of the result and the purported victor, the crowd can be heard booing in dissapointment and disbelief, as Diana Lopez is awarded the victory. In light of this, Nia is now fighting three fights; one against her athletic opponents, one against the political administration that governs the US Olympics Committee, and one against the big-name networks who have persistently refused to tell her story. The "We Support Nia" campaign is urging everyone to "contact the US Olympic Committee Ombudsman (john.ruger@usoc.org or 888-Athlete... ESPN, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX" and to "implore your local media, and your congressmen to force the US Olympic Committee to review this decision and right this wrong." In solidarity, I urge everyone reading to join in this struggle against the arm of injustice.

Footage of the match (you decide):

Nia Abdallah vs Diana Lopez - Olympic Qualifying Match


To support the campaign, pls. visit:

http://www.myspace.com/wesupportnia

http://wesupportnia.blogspot.com/

To donate to her campaign, pls. go to:

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=P54HNyud7fljCv9H5NwqzzVpI7ekQ2nNIiXTX8V1wk6JKNdo6L0CbSlFsi4&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f80512b0980fcab74abc3e59231243d18121e007aec81fb1f