San Francisco Domestic Violence Billboard, Inspired By Ross Mirkarimi, To Be Erected

In response to San Francisco Sherrif Ross Mirkarimi's reaction to his recent domestic violence allegations, advocacy group La Casa de las Madres has raised funds to erect an anti-domestic violence billboard inspired by the sherrif.

The billboard will read "Domestic Violence is NEVER a private matter" -- a reference to Mirkarimi's remark that the alleged incident was a "private matter."

"Domestic violence is not a family or a private matter," wrote La Casa de las Madres on its website. "It is a crime, with extremely personal impacts that elicit complex responses."

The billboard will be erected on the intersection of Tenth and Harrison Streets, about six blocks from the courthouse in a high-traffic area, and should be up by next week. According to ABC, La Casa de las Madres raised $4,024 dollars from 95 donors. The group is now raising funds to erect a second billboard with the same message in Spanish.

Mirkarimi has been charged with misdemeanor domestic violence battery, child endangerment and dissuading a witness from a December 31 incident, in which he allegedly bruised his wife's arm. His trial is slated to begin on February 24.

But La Casa de las Madres explained that the billboard was not in reaction to Mirkarimi's guilt or innocence, but rather in reaction to his comments about the incident.

"Regardless of guilt or innocence, the media spotlight on domestic violence creates an important teaching moment," wrote La Casa on its website. "This case is remarkable in that its alleged perpetrator is an elected official and one of San Francisco's top public safety officers. Otherwise, the details which have been reported are not remarkable. They echo the dynamics of power and control and the hallmarks of domestic violence we see here every day at La Casa de las Madres. [...] Together we can counteract the paucity of San Francisco public officials making a stand or taking action to correct the public perception that San Francisco has a cavalier attitude toward domestic violence."

Comments

[b0nni3]

02:33 AM on 02/25/2012

I'm curious, is she now admitting that she's a liar? Was she just mad that he ignored her? Did she really just fall down the stairs? She keeps saying people are lying to try and hurt them, but what's the truth? She is on video, knowingly being recorded as she accuses her husband of abuse. The video isn't going to get thrown out, so how is she going to explain it away?

If she is telling the truth now, and he didn't do anything, I'll consider her the worst of the ones she had accused of lying to hurt them. I'll really feel badly for her son though, no one wants to learn that his mother is a vindictive idiot who lied about being abused.

With the position he holds, I just really hope the truth comes out...

[harrymudd]

04:02 PM on 02/18/2012

I have been personally attacked by two people on this thread. My only guilt is that I said people are innocent unless proven guilty.

In both cases their posts go through the moderators and my complaints fell on deaf ears. I am sure this one will also be censored.

It seems like there is an "accpeted" position and if you stray attacks are condoned. If this is what Huffington Post is then I will be out of here.

[mdipary2004]

08:36 AM on 02/16/2012

Domestic Violence works both ways. Why is it, when a woman kills or assaults a male it is never refered to as DV? Case and point the Jodi Arias case, this woman shot her exboyfreind then stabed him 27 times and slit his throut and never never any mention of domestic violence until she claims in her third story to police that she acted in selfdefence. I believe DV advocates need to start addressing DV on both sides, we are watching you and can see your agenda.

[ponder300]

07:46 PM on 02/13/2012

I now understand that the wife...(Lopez) is going to testify.. Previously she refused any cooperation with the investigation...and loudly declared that it wasn't abuse.

I bet....she is going to now tailor her testimony to recant...and claim she lied to gain leverage in any future custody disputes.... She will claim that she "bruised" her own arm...or it was a mutual physical struggle resulting in the injury.... Lopez has said she will only testify if granted immunity.

Think about it...what else can they say.. I believe it will be concocted and crafted to get a acquittal.

[jccourt]

10:08 AM on 02/14/2012

Eliana Lopez attorney Paula Canny said her client would not stray from her assertion that her husband did not abuse her. thanks.

[pridegrrlnj]

04:08 PM on 02/13/2012

These so called protector are also perp and they have a system that cover them. I know from first hand experience. These abuser love to flaunt the fact that the wife or children have no one that will believe them about the abuses they receive. Many officer wives/ judges lawyers etc are abuser. hopefully she doesn't just disappear like so many other. time will tell....

[leyvadaniel]

12:12 PM on 02/12/2012

I will contribute to this billboard. I agree, Domestic Violence is a problem similar (and in many cases linked) to child abuse of the worse kind. Men who are violent against their wives are 10 times more likely to be child abusers (against male and female children)

[harrymudd]

05:44 AM on 02/12/2012

Dear Red45: There must be a balance between rights of accused; society and people. Justice must apply to all people equally.

Regarding your point. How about if somebody who does not like you accuses you. Does that mean you don't get to see your own kid? What if both parents get false accusations? What is supposed to happen to their kid then. Remember Mirkarimi has no history of child abuse. None of the accusations here are about child abuse. It is only about holding Lopez's arms hard enough to bruise them. Something Lopez herself denies. Do you believe Lopez or is she not reliable. If the latter then how could you trust the video?

It puts a great deal of power in hands of accusers. Do they get to ruin a life just like that? Specially when in this case the alleged victim has withdrawn the accusation. This is why we have a system of innocent until proven guilty. Then your opponent does not get to ruin your life by a false accusation.

[Missionite]

03:17 PM on 02/13/2012

What about the other two ex-girl friends who have come forward to say that they to where man handled by this guy.
Are they also part of this plot to railroad Mirkarmi ???

[jccourt]

10:28 AM on 02/14/2012

You are referring to Christina Marie Florez, interestingly she was married to San Francisco Domestic Violence (DV) inspector Flores, as such she should have known better, why is she coming forward 3 years later with her assertions is interesting.

On the other hand there is Evelyn Nieves who had a relationship with the defendant for almost 10 years who says, that he was in no way violent and that he would talk his way out of any arguments. Will a good character witness be discarded?

[Missionite]

11:15 AM on 02/14/2012

Maybe she is coming forword now because there is a pattern to his behavior or maybe
she was embarrassed having been married to DV officer.
As for the other women, alot of women protect their abusers.

[kareemachan]

03:42 PM on 02/13/2012

Um, he was charged with child endangerment, you know.

[jccourt]

10:32 AM on 02/14/2012

Standard procedure in similar cases.

[harrymudd]

02:33 PM on 02/14/2012

Right! There was no evidence or allegation of it. More proof of DA abusing power. It Makes my point doesn't it.

[harrymudd]

08:25 PM on 02/11/2012

Dear readers: there is not evidence he hurt his wife. Ms. Lopez denies it; he denies it and the video does not show him at all. It shows a bruise which may have been due to anything. I find the jump to convict by some people very disturbing. This is why laws need to be reformed to protect families from this kind of persecution.

[kareemachan]

03:42 PM on 02/13/2012

So, harry, when did you stop beating your wife?

[jccourt]

10:37 AM on 02/14/2012

@ kareemachan: That is a ridiculous assumption, that in no way address the poster valid comment.

[harrymudd]

10:24 AM on 02/16/2012

This is offensive; and I am flagging it.

[HipsterCorgi]

08:00 AM on 02/11/2012

I realize the importance to educate people about the issue, but it seems to me that putting up a billboard about this man might be hurtful to his wife and children.

[Red45]

07:39 PM on 02/11/2012

He hurt his wife. That's why they put up the billboard.

[harrymudd]

08:26 PM on 02/11/2012

You don't know that and are going by assumption only. The video does not show him at all. When did a picture of film and a bruise by itself get to be proof have guilt.

[HipsterCorgi]

01:58 PM on 02/12/2012

I know why they put up the billboard. It just seems that having a billboard put up to advertise it would be hurtful to them as well.

[jccourt]

10:46 AM on 02/14/2012

The billboard is indeed premature and prejudicial, the trial is coming up, and the defendant could have meant that a private family argument, is a private family matter. well said HipsterCorgi. thanks.

[harrymudd]

05:01 AM on 02/11/2012

I have wondered why is the DA so obviously trying to steamroll Mirkarimi. You got a conservative DA persecuting a progressive Mirkarimi. But why be so obviously biased; I wondered about this whole thing. Why go after a family with such flimsy and weak evidence. Why are the charges so out of line with the evidence. Why put up a billboard to clearly taint the jury pool? Why tarnish the reputation of La Casa in the process. Why drive a wedge between various progressive anti-violence groups. It did not make sense to me for a long time.

Then it just dawned on me maybe the real goal is to attack the domestic violence laws. What better way than to show how they may be misused by a DA? This will become the textbook for why not to give DA and judges too much power. I guarantee once this case is over it will be used to attack the laws. People all over America will be reminded how any of them could be Mirkarimi. I never realized the extent of government power. Now you bet people like me are going to be fighting to reform these laws. No government should be telling adults who to see.

[NamithaSF]

12:13 PM on 02/11/2012

DV is not a progressive or conservative issue. It's a crime. Just tell us how bad a beating would Eliana have to suffer before this ceases to be a "progressive" issue? Broken nose? Eye cut out?
What do you need, tell us wise one.

[harrymudd]

04:19 PM on 02/11/2012

She has not suffered any beating based on her own testimony under oath. Do you think a woman should be trusted to speak for herself? I am all for women rights to abortion; military service and 100% equal rights. I also believe it is their right to speak for themselves. As well as to decide whom they want to see. Not a judge; not you; me; DA or DV advocates.

The problem here is that the case is missing two critical ingredients:
1) Accusation by Ms. Lopez.
2) Proof that Mirkarimi did anything. None of the videos show Mirkarimi. The bruises could have been made a million different ways.

How are we to tell the real cause of a bruise? Could I bruise myself and then claim it was my partner? Is that sufficient to get him or her arrested? What if we both get bruised. Should police always presume it was the man? What about a gay relationship.

[harrymudd]

03:59 PM on 02/18/2012

Your previous post is totally outrageous. It does not have a reply section so I am replying to you here. You are basically arguing with yourself and making sure you win.

* First you make up an imaginary situation.
* Next you make up an imaginary response from me which I did not make.
* The you get on a high horse and personally attack me.

It is this kind of behavior which ruins credibility. If you want to argue with yourself you will always win. One thing I have learned is radical view points are always wrong. It is only a cool head using logic that can get to a sensible result.

[Red45]

07:42 PM on 02/11/2012

So, you're going to work hard to reform laws against domestic violence? Or laws that protect the prepetrators? Or both?

[harrymudd]

08:29 PM on 02/11/2012

I want the right to be "innocent until proven" to be respected. It is the basis of the American judicial system. I want people's rights to be respected. Accusation does not mean automatic guilt. If it did then we'd all go to jail based on an accusation.

[Mike Rock]

10:21 PM on 02/10/2012

ANYBODY who supports ANY GOP/TP is a TOTAL IDIOT, unless they're a trillionaire.

[suzisharp]

06:36 PM on 02/10/2012

La Casa is a decent organization and this distortion is for the sole purpose of self-promotion. The Sheriff said the argument between his wife and himself is "a private matter" and what that means is that the charges do NOT rise to the definition of Domestic Violence. Yes, DV is a public matter, in fact, a crime that should be prosecuted but obviously is not -- just ask people of color and poverty if they get any help. The DV charge against the Sheriff is the WEAPON used by political opponents to crush the man -- but they are failing as people see the light. Come on! How can anyone ignore the D.A. steamrollering the guy and his family!!??

[harrymudd]

04:53 AM on 02/11/2012

The actions of DA are so over the top they are obviously political. But why be so obvious; is the DA an amateur or does he have other motives. Please read the post I am working on above.

[Red45]

07:46 PM on 02/11/2012

Well, obviously the sheriff gave the DA plenty to work with.

[jccourt]

11:24 AM on 02/14/2012

The Sherrif's wife said under oath that she is not afraid of her husband, that she feels the system is destroying her family. These statements cannot be swept under the carpet so to speak. thanks.

[coppersmom]

05:10 PM on 02/10/2012

Well they are 'MOTHERS" all right. Spending thousands to humiliate a sheriff and inflame a local jury pool...thousands they could have spent helping someone who really needs help..instead of giving the defense a great boost in any change of venue motion...good work mothers...indeed.

[harrymudd]

04:36 AM on 02/11/2012

Well said. This group delivering another punch against real battered people. If they really were interested in people they would spend money on deserving people.

I wonder the fact that Mirkarimi is a hard core progressive is involved. He is a former Green with very liberal policies. They greatly angered SF police who may for once actually be held responsible.

[Red45]

07:48 PM on 02/11/2012

I wonder if the fact that he actually assaulted his wife is of any relevance to you. He can call himself a progressive all day long and you can keep dropping that word like it's a bad thing over and over. Doesn't change what he did. He has brought this on himself.

[kareemachan]

03:45 PM on 02/13/2012

Bringing an issue like this into the light of day IS doing good.

[harrymudd]

10:41 AM on 02/16/2012

Real good like make sure that the jury pool is tainted. Then a possible conviction will be tossed on appeal. If they really want justice they would wait. Then if he is found guilty put up the board. If not at least they do not have to apologize.