Video tells the story of Lindsay Ann Burke, who was a victim of dating violence
Today is National It's Time to Talk Day, and Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin is releasing a public service announcement he filmed to raise awareness of the prevalence of teen dating violence. The video is available on Attorney General Kilmartin's web site, http://www.riag.ri.gov/datingabuse/, as well as on YouTube.
In his public service announcement, Attorney General Kilmartin tells the story of Lindsay Ann Burke, who was a victim of an abusive relationship that ultimately led to her murder.
"Lindsay Burke was a heartbreaking example that abuse can happen to anyone. Lindsay had her whole life ahead of her, and it was brutally cut short at the hands of her boyfriend," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "I hope that by sharing Lindsay's story, we can raise awareness of the prevalence of teen dating violence to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening to another family."
In addition to the public service announcement, Attorney General Kilmartin is launching a month-long social media campaign for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month to tell teens and their parents that It's Time to Talk About Dating Violence. Throughout the month, Attorney General Kilmartin will share tips and resources to spark conversations about dating violence, connect victims with resources for help and educate teens about how to prevent abuse in their own relationships.
"Dating violence affects young people from all backgrounds, but the one thing most victims have in common is that they thought it couldn't happen to them," said Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin. "Educating teens about the warning signs of violence and abuse is one of the best ways to prevent them from being victimized, which is why I believe it is so important to reach out during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month."
Statistics show that one in three teens and young adults will experience some form of domestic or dating abuse, and that three in four parents have never spoken about the issue with their child. More information is available on Attorney General Kilmartin's web site, and you can also follow the conversation on Twitter.