To the Editor:

We are members of “Men Against Domestic and Sexual Violence,” a local group committed to taking a stand against domestic and sexual violence in our communities.

The toll taken by domestic and sexual violence jumps each day from our local headlines. We know that violence plagues women, children, and men in every community large and small, rural and urban, and within families that are affluent or impoverished. And the toll is staggering. One in three women have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner. One in five women will be sexually assaulted during their lifetime. One in seven men will be a victim of physical violence by an intimate partner.

It should come as no surprise that the majority of these crimes are perpetrated by men. So, it’s not “somebody else’s problem” — it’s everybody’s problem. And for men it’s time to recognize that it’s “our” problem, and that we must join the fight against violence in all its forms.

Our men’s group is an adjunct council within the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury. We are men from all walks of life who recognize that men have a responsibility to help other men do better. We hold ourselves and others accountable for the problem of violence. We’ve learned that domestic and sexual violence and the stereotypes that lead to violence are learned behaviors that can be changed through education. We challenge sexist comments and jokes directed at women or other at-risk communities. When we suspect violence we speak up because we know that silence is a form of consent and that we as a society, and especially as men, have been silent too long. We believe that we can and must be a force in transforming our communities. Again, it’s our problem and we’re working locally to resolve it.

We invite interested men to join our group and to make a stand against the scourge of domestic and sexual violence. For more information about the group visit the Women’s Center website at wcogd.org (click on the “About” tab and scroll down to Men Against Domestic and Sexual Violence) or call the Women’s Center at 203-731-5200.

Sincerely,

Eric J. Eggan, Attorney

Chairperson, Board of Directors

Women’s Center of Greater Danbury

2 West Street, Danbury

Stephen G. Rosentel

President, Leahy’s Fuels, Inc June 8, 2020