Strength, solace, safety tips shared at Modesto rally for crime victims

Supporting and in some cases remembering crime’s victims took center stage in Modesto at the Victims’ Rights Rally and Family Safety Fair on the courthouse lawn.

The event, a grand finale to National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, was about getting communities involved and watching out for each other, said organizer Cheryl Titus.

“We’re all neighbors,” she told the small crowd gathered for the rally Saturday.

Rain clouds parted and the sun came out as the Beyer Band played and the event began.

The week’s theme for 2015 is “Engaging communities, empowering victims.” But, Titus said, “It takes courage to give help and to accept help when you need it.”

Courage and support, said speaker Christine Tallent, who calls herself a survivor rather than a victim. “I’m speaking today to let others know they are not alone, to share some of my story so they can understand they are not alone,” she said.

Her “perfect” guy hit her the first time after six months of dating. “And he was sorry, and it would never happen again. But back then I didn’t recognize the signs of an abusive relationship,” Tallent said. As is typical of such relationships, things got worse. He called her stupid, isolated her from friends and family, and started hitting her so hard her head smashed through the drywall.

When Tallent left him, she was broke, frightened and completely alone. She became one of the first clients of the Stanislaus Family Justice Center. Today, she has a good job and supportive relationships. “It took a year of counseling. It does take a while. It is hard work, but it is so worth it,” Tallent said.

Advocates for victims have been a part of federal crime-fighting efforts since shortly after 9/11, said Holly Peacock-Hickey of FBI Victim Services. The service responds to crisis scenes such as the Boston Marathon bombing, but also helps victims of white-collar crimes, hate crimes and, increasingly, cybercrimes, she said.

After the speeches, attendees wrote wishes and prayers and tied the notes to balloons. A mass release followed a rendition of the 1972 hit “Lean on Me,” dabs of color floating up, up. They floated just over the courthouse roof, where a rainbow shone.

At a booth offering information about abuse, volunteer Nikki Farnum said about 40 percent of all cases brought to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office are domestic violence cases. Many are repeat cases.

“It takes seven times trying to leave to be successful,” Farnum said. “It gets worse and worse. It can be fatal before they get out.”

Mom Nicole Lewis took advantage of a free digital ID for her children, offered by New York Life. “When I was younger, I almost got kidnapped in front of my home. I want them to be safe,” Lewis said.

Emily Johnson, whose uncle was murdered, and her friend Esmeralda Hidalgo came to send up a balloon. “All they have is pictures of her uncle,” Hidalgo said, adding that Johnson’s grandmother keeps her brother’s memory close.

The grandmother, Mary Ann Ybarra, came to the event “just for being around people, getting and giving support,” she said. At last year’s rally, Ybarra spoke about her brother’s murder. On Saturday, she said she met a woman moved by her speech.

“She said, ‘Thank you. It helped me out.’ That’s what these events do, they help out the victims of crime,” Ybarra said.

This story was originally published April 25, 2015 at 7:42 PM with the headline "Strength, solace, safety tips shared at Modesto rally for crime victims."