An ancient Ghana proverb states: “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.” Imagine for a moment what it would be like if the hijackers of 9/11 had grown up in a home where violence is NEVER an acceptable means to an end.
Police were horrified when they entered the Eastlake home of 37-year-old Susan Gallese on April 6, 1995. The scene was something out of a Friday the 13th film. Susan lay on the floor, shot three times, stabbed 60 times and her breast & navel mutilated with a hunting knife left imbedded in her chest by her 43 year old husband who then shot himself. This scene was reflective of the violent pornography he displayed in his home (The Plain Dealer; Cleveland, OH; Apr 7, 1995, 1B). Eastshore Unitarian Universalist Church could no longer stay silent about this epidemic in their country. Since October 1, 1995 women killed by their intimate partner in Lake County have not been forgotten.
1995 - In September of 1995 Eastshore Unitarian Universalist Church, Mentor, Ohio, in cooperation with Forbes House (the local shelter) produced ten Silent Witness figures in the basement of the old church at Greystone mansion. Lieutenant Tom Doyle was asked to compile a list of names of women murdered by their male intimates in Lake County and a little information on the circumstances of their deaths. Church members, shelter volunteers, and staff were asked to donate their time to produce the figures. They all met in the basement and sawdust started to fill the room. Lorna Cramer did most of the cutting out of the figures. The room was filled with sounds, smells and laughter as they were sawing, sanding, priming, and painting. Then the stands were produced and attached. Dave Simmerer an artist in our membership produced and painted the shields. We all felt some sense of purpose as we worked hard together for them to be ready for unveiling October 1, 1995. Right after church on Sunday October 1st, the congregation and community members gathered on the front lawn of Eastshore UU Church along I-90 to honor the women killed by their intimate partners. Ohio Senator Boggs, Bruce Clary (Eastshore’s UU minister), Kathy Ohlrich of the Junior League, and Dorothy Lemmey (originator), spoke about the effects of silence surrounding domestic violence. They were displayed on the front lawn from October 1 to October 31, 1995.
1996 –They were displayed at Lakeland Community College for the month of October and a few went to the Girl Scout conference at Clarion Hotel in Eastlake, Ohio.
1997- Thanks to BJ Roberts and Dan and Libby Bond, the Eastshore UU Church was represented in the march in Washington, October 18, 1997, a national event where 1500 figures and 2000 men, women and children attended. B.J. and Dan securely wrapped two figures and air freighted them to Washington D.C. Libby (12 years old) wrote the following about her experience.
“I personally can tell you that this was a very important and inspiring trip and I know that it will influence my life in the future. I will not allow others to control my life to the point of such despair. In addition, I will not be abusive of others. As far as the time was concerned, it turned out to be four to five hours as my mother had indicated. Time well spent.”
1998 - moving preparations to new church.
1999 –Church volunteers repaired the figures and displayed them along route 306 during Domestic Violence month (October). They received much publicity. Channel 8 news featured the witnesses on their news for at least 5 minutes. The segments showed the witnesses and neighbors were interviewed as to their perception of having the witnesses along the road. They responded positively and stated that this can help to make this problem more visible. We carried 2 of the witnesses in Homesafe's annual March Against Abuse in Ashtabula and the figure’s picture appeared in the Ashtabula Star Beacon 10/8/99. Lakeland Community College had a feature story showing the witnesses and the church sign, published some research and added numbers of the local shelter and the college women's center.
1999 – 2001 have been displayed along Route 306 in front of the new church building, which we moved into November 1998. Each year on Oct. 31 they are taken down silently, gently and reverently zipped back up into their body bags (purchased from the morgue) to rest. They quietly wait till the next year when they will be roused again to stand in silence in the cold and rain just to remind us of where unchecked power and control can lead.
2002 – The figures will again stand along RT 306 in front of the church. They were repaired and 3 shields remade and two names added. Jeannine died of three gunshot wounds to the head and trunk, including skeletal and visceral injuries by her former boyfriend. Kirtland police and two police departments as well as a SWAT team were surrounded the neighborhood for seven hours. Jeannine Humphrey and former boyfriend were found dead. Age 47, September 20, 2001, News Herald. One figure was displayed Sept 10 at the Ohio League of Nursing meeting. They will be carried in Homesafe annual March Against Abuse in Ashtabula on October 10, 2002. CHRISTINE RENICK - Stabbed 10 times by her husband of 30 years in the garage after an evening at Indians game. He told his son-in-law that she “had humiliated the family.” Then repeatedly stabbed himself in front of his son. News Herald, April 30, 2000
October 30, 2002
– two figures were found damaged by vandals during the night. These figures heads were beaten off and the arm sustained damage as well. We will build two more
2003 – (February 15 at 7p) the figures were displayed in the narthex of the church during the benefit production of “Vagina Monologues.” The production had 12 actors, a director and 320 people in the audience. This benefit raised $7000 for three shelters Homesafe (Ashtabula Co), as well as Womansafe (Geauga Co), and Forbes House (Lake Co). Forty church members volunteered to work on this project, which was hailed the “best production of Vagina Monologues ever produced.”
The Silent Witness National Initiative started 1990 with 27 life-size figures in Minnesota. Today all 50 states and over 13 countries (e.g. Guam, Israel, England, Spain, Hungary, Australia, Cayman Islands) have their own displays with a total of more than 2,000 Silent Witnesses. Several states have multiple exhibits. Each state introduced its exhibit to the public through a special public event. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and we would like to make a public statement about the outcome of unchecked family violence. http://www.silentwitness.net/
Update - In 2002 in response to the 4 women murdered by their intimate partner at Ft. Bragg, Miles Foundation will be supplying every military base (89-90) in the United States with a Silent Witness exhibit.
“…if we don’t think about our daughters loving a batterer, that won’t happen. Our silence grants violence permission. We sacrifice our daughters to protect our own beloved innocence. In the language of violence, every speech is a solipsism and silence a conspirator.” Hamill, Sam. A Poet’s Work: The Other Side Of Poetry. Seattle: Broken Moon Press 1990. 3-13 Chapter -Necessity To Speak
Remember: "Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead.
If you or someone you know is being abused call
Lake County: Forbes House 440-357-1018 / 953-9779
Ashtabula Co: Homesafe 440-992-2727
Geauga Co: Womensafe 440-285-0336Written by Dorothy Lemmey
Wednesday, October 02, 2002
Updated Monday, February 16, 2003Return to East Shore Home Page
Copyright © 1999-2005 East Shore Unitarian Universalist Church
Last Modified: 09/12/05
