Campaign focuses on awareness of domestic violence

YOUNGSTOWN — Danielle, a professional area businesswoman, didn’t have a black eye or a broken arm.

She wondered herself if she was experiencing domestic violence in her new marriage.

Her husband, she said, was always overprotective. At first, she discounted that, but six weeks into the marriage, his behavior escalated.

“Once, he yelled at me for an hour and didn’t talk to me for two days. He looked at my emails from work and became more insecure and jealous. I couldn’t speak to another man,” she said.

“He held me down for an hour while he yelled at me. I called 911 and the police came, but each time he begged me to come home. It would be better for a little while, and then he would begin again belittling and manhandling me,” Danielle said.

The final episode caused her to go to the police and seek help.

“He held me at gunpoint for more than an hour and only let me go if I promised to come home after picking up a child from school. I went to the police,” she said.

Domestic violence is about control through intimidation and fear, and it tends to escalate, she said.

“It does not get better. That is why we have to break the silence,” she told a rapt audience at today’s kickoff of the local NO MORE Public Service Announcement campaign at St. John Episcopal Church.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com