From the Desk of David W. Coleman
Founder & President of I Love My Children, Too

Anti-Domestic Violence Advocates Surprisingly Mum Over Acquittal

It should not be surprising to male support groups that anti-domestic violence advocates hide from comment relating to the beauty queen who murdered her boyfriend. Their silence bolsters critics concerns that male victims do not exist and are only perpetrators who get what they deserve.

Former Ms. Savannah and alleged murderer, Sharron Nicole Redmond was recently acquitted of offing her boyfriend, Kevin Shorter claiming she acted in self defense. Nine women and three men bought her ‘victim’ defense hook, line and sinker that she was afraid of Mr. Shorter and that is why she got a gun, drove to Mr. Shorter’s location and shot him in cold blood. Well maybe it wasn’t cold blood because according to Redmond, she fired a warning shot which tore through Shorter’s femoral artery causing him to bleed to death. Maybe she just wanted to ‘wing’ him like they used to do in the Wild West. The jury obviously saw nothing but crocodile tears, and weaved hair never considering the real victim, Kevin Shorter.

From the outset, no doubt many felt there must be a logical reason for such a promising young black woman to kill a no good black man. Of course there was a good reason, the victim was two-timing her not to mention his alleged physical abuse according Redmond. Who’s the victim here? That’s right men are only perpetrators and there is no such thing as a male victim.

Even the Associated Press made sure Shorter’s two-timing was prominent in the first ten words of its national release dated March 17, 2005. “A beauty queen who shot and killed her two-timing…” Is this relevant? Maybe but what’s more important is Shorter’s story will never be heard because he is dead from an intentional violent attack from his girlfriend.

Its clear Redmond was an angry, possessive young woman who found out her beau was keeping the company of another woman. Just like all narcissistic, self absorbed, self centered abusers be they male or FEMALE, the new Ms. Savannah was having none of that and she was going to reclaim her womanhood with the help of a Saturday night special.

Doesn’t this verdict do harm to the plight of real victims in domestic violence? One would think champions against domestic violence would be marshaling their forces to march on the South because of this miscarriage of justice for Kevin Shorter. Quite the contrary. From the outset, anti-DV advocates have been deafly silent on this case and others when men are the victims of evil, possessive women.

Domestic Violence is an ugly crime that takes place far too often in homes all across America. Studies show that nearly 40 percent of domestic violence is initiated by women. It crosses all socio-economic lines without regard to race, creed, color or GENDER. It is wrong when perpetrated against women and should be as well when men are victims.

Isn’t it time for those who sorely want to rid this country of the domestic violence plague to recognize men are victims too?

If Kevin Shorter could speak, he probably would agree.