The LAPD had to make an intense effort to encourage the community to denounce after a worrying decline
The LAPD had to make an intense effort to encourage the community to denounce after a worrying decline
BY: ARACELI MARTÍNEZ ORTEGA
After reports of crimes related to domestic violence and sexual assault dropped among the Hispanic community in April 2017, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) managed to increase reporting levels this year.
"We are pleased to report to the Los Angeles County Council that the 2017 year-end statistics indicate an improvement in the reporting of crimes related to sexual assault and violence among Hispanic victims," the LAPD Board members revealed in a report.
"Among Hispanics and citywide, reports of sexual assault rose from a deficit of 10% to 4%, and reports of domestic violence improved the deficit by 4%," they said.
That is to say, fewer women were called up.
In February of this year, the Los Angeles City Council approved a motion to ask the LAPD to report on complaints made by the immigrant community related to domestic violence and sexual assault. The petition arose because they began to receive information that the undocumented population was not reporting the crimes out of fear of deportation.
And make no mistake, in April 2017, LAPD statistics showed a drop of more than 23% in reports of sexual assault among Hispanic victims compared to a drop of 14% in the whole city.
Regarding domestic violence, the reduction in reports was 8% among Hispanics compared to the general average of 4% in the city of Los Angeles.
The head of the LAPD, Charlie Beck, said during the public hearings in March that the drop in the number of reports of crimes by Latinos was a wake-up call for both them and the public to form an alliance to address the issue.
Among the actions they carried out to encourage Latinos to report when they are victims of a crime were the holding of 100 migration forums, meetings with community leaders and organizations that advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, support for immigrants to receive police certification when they are victims and thus qualify for the U visa.
They also met with the Spanish-language media and the Latin American consulates in Los Angeles.
"Our department is committed to protecting the public from crime and other harms through alliances and the principles of the Constitution regardless of race, origin or immigration status," said Chief Beck.
It is important to note that the LAPD does not ask about the migration status of people who file a police report, said Chief Beck.
The jeans day
Like 19 years ago, more than 12 million people around the world dressed in jeans this Friday, April 25, to protest against sexual violence. Los Ángeles was not far behind. Jeans Day was held in schools, universities, military bases and workplaces to make the message very clear: "sexual assault, not in my presence".
"Dressing up in mezclilla pantaloons is a symbolic action that sends the message that there is no excuse for harassing, abusing, assaulting and raping," explained Patti Giggans, founder of Jeans Day and director of the Peace over Violence organization.
It's also a protest against the misconceptions surrounding sexual assault, she said.
The Jeans Day prevention and education campaign, which began in 1999, asks members of the community, elected public officials, businesses and students to make a social statement with fashion by wearing jeans that day.
"Sexual assault is a proving ground for sexual violence that is rooted in our society where rape culture is out of control," said Giggans.
He mentioned that taking action and speaking out against these issues has been a crucial part of the Jeans Day prevention and education campaign.
Mayor Eric Garcetti said that sexual assault is not a women's issue, it is a crime in which everyone has a responsibility to confront, and play a role in putting an end to it.
"It starts with awareness, and that's why Angolans are committed to fighting sexual violence, and are joining the people of the United States and the country to wear cowboys on Jeans Day," he said.
He also pointed out that on this day, Los Ángeles sent a simple and powerful message to the victims and survivors: "you are not alone".
Source: La Opinión - 26/04/18
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