By Paige Laver
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – As part of Domestic Awareness month, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office held an event to honor survivors of domestic violence and to recognize those who support victim healing.
In addition to honoring survivors, the DA’s office honored members of law enforcement, community leaders, service providers and District Attorney staff members.
District Attorney Chesa Boudin spoke about the importance of honoring survivors and the types of approach he wishes to enforce
“This month and every month we are dedicated to centering domestic violence survivors and making sure their stories are told,” he said, adding, “we are indebted to the honorees at today’s event, each of whom has contributed so much to promoting safety and healing for survivors. The experiences and perspectives of domestic violence survivors help us to ensure that we are taking a trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach to domestic violence cases.”
One “ Community Hero” honoree is a woman who would like to be identified as “L.F.” She endured severe, ongoing physical abuse by a former partner. The abuse culminated in a traumatic accident in which L.F. was forced to jump out of a second-story window to escape a violent attack.
Last year, prosecutors in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office presented the case against her abuser to a San Francisco jury. L.F. courageously testified at that trial against her former partner.
The jury found her abuser guilty of mayhem and torture, and he is currently serving a prison sentence of 10 years and four months.
L.F. spoke at the event, “I am honored to be here today and to be able to be a voice for survivors of domestic violence. I couldn’t have done this without the help of SFDA. I greatly appreciate each and every one of you and what you’ve done for me and all of the other women.”
Before the ceremony, San Francisco District Attorney Staff walked a mile alongside survivors, community stakeholders, and members of law enforcement to symbolically honor survivors’ strength and courage.
“Domestic violence permeates our entire society. Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a moment when we can lift up and honor the courage of survivors and everyone who has helped them to navigate their trauma,” said Evanthia Pappas, managing Attorney of the Domestic Violence Unit for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.
“We want to encourage victims to step forward to take a stand against violence by their intimate partners. I am incredibly proud of our domestic violence team who work night and day to ensure that every available resource is dedicated to these cases,” she said.
Below is a list of the awardees at the event
Community Heroes Awardees: L.F. Domestic Violence Survivor; Inspector Tony Flores, Inspector, SFPD Special Victims Unit.
Community- Based Organization Champion Awardees: Emberly C. Cross, Coordinating Attorney, Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic(CROC).
SFDA Superstar Awardees: Tanisha Gooch, Assistant District Attorney; Karima Baptise, Advocacy Supervisor, Victim Services Division; Priscilla Portillo, Domestic Violence Victim Violence Advocate; Melissa McNair, Domestic Violence Victim Advocate; Melissa Curiel, Domestic Violence Victim Advocate; Francesca Zarate, Domestic Violence Victim Advocate; Alma Garcia, Domestic Violence Victim Advocate; Douglas Keely, Inspector, DAI.
The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office honored an additional two domestic abuse survivors who are choosing to remain anonymous.
More about the District Attorney’s Victim Services Division and the services it provides to crime survivors, at https://sfdistrictattorney.org/victim-services/
