As Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. prepares for his second-in-command duties, Quincy Lucas is hoping he will make domestic violence awareness one focus of his new role.
The Dover resident and Appoquinimink School District teacher began a crusade against domestic violence after her sister, Dr. Witney Rose, was murdered by an ex-boyfriend in 2003.
Lucas’ mission was recently highlighted when she introduced Biden at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 27. Biden drafted the 1994 Violence Against Women Act, and has worked to curtail domestic abuse.
“It was a celebrity experience, but it’s not about me,” Lucas said. “It’s about me speaking and fighting for people who don’t have that opportunity. It’s about those who cannot speak for themselves.”
Now that Barack Obama and Biden won the 2008 General Election, Lucas hopes more attention will be devoted to the cause.
“The next day I thought, ‘Great. He won, now let’s get to work,’ ” she said. “I’ve been in contact with a couple of [Biden’s] staff to say, ‘Remember, we want to keep domestic violence in the forefront.’ They’re a little busy, but it’s one of the things on their agenda. I think it will stay a priority as long as we stay on top of it.”
Lucas founded Witney’s Lights, an organization dedicated to educating youth about and bringing awareness to domestic violence.
Joe and Dr. Jill Biden expressed gratitude for Lucas’ advocacy work, and Lucas was invited to speak again during the campaign.
Spreading the word
While sitting in one of her doctoral classes at Wilmington University, Lucas received a phone call from Biden’s staff and was asked to speak at a rally in Sterling, Va. She hopped on a campaign jet at the New Castle County Airport and flew with the Bidens, and her family, to the rally.
“I was pinching myself the whole time thinking, ‘I can’t believe this is happening,’ ” Lucas said. “Sen. Biden was working the whole time. The rest of the plane was press and secret service, and they made sure we were well taken care of. For the most part it was very light and lively, but still all about staying focused.”
Lucas said she told Witney’s story of what happened and talked about how anyone can fall prey to domestic violence.
“I talked about how successful Witney was as a psychiatrist and she had never been hit or beat before. Just because she broke up with her boyfriend, he came back and he killed her,” she said. “I want people to believe if it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone, and hopefully their eyes will open a little bit more.”
Lucas said one in three women become victims of domestic violence and 75 percent of the homicides in domestic violence situations are after the victim has broken up with the predator.
“It’s really dangerous to leave, so we need to put preventative measures in place,” she said. “Women need to know the signs. It may not be that you’re hit. It could be you are controlled.”
Lucas said domestic violence has an adverse effect on the economy because between $3 billion and $5 billion is spent each year on prosecuting and apprehending predators, and making sure mental health care is available to victims.
Lucas said the crowd at the rally was mostly women, and they were overwhelmingly supportive.
“It was relieving to get even more out about domestic violence,” she said. “I was with an audience who has the same thoughts, the same beliefs and the same support as what I have. At the end, people came up to me and thanked me.”
Lucas said she was invited to speak about domestic violence at Wilmington University, Delaware State University and for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She now speaks at various events almost every weekend.
“From the speaking engagements I’ve done since all of this, the No. 1 thing I hear is women are afraid. Not necessarily if they are a victim, but if they know a victim,” she said. “When you have seen someone, or heard of the people who are victims of domestic violence homicide in general, you realize you have to be their voice.
“When you see that co-worker or your friend [is a victim], don’t keep silent about it,” Lucas said. “Document it. Journal it. Do something.”
Lucas said she’s been able to help others who have learned about her foundation as a result of her work with the campaign.
“Women are still calling me because they’re afraid to talk about it,” she said. “Recently there was a woman who was killed by her husband in front of their kids. Now the grandmother is raising the kids and she’s overwhelmed with grief. She just needed someone to talk to.”
Lucas said she’s also received calls from local women who are victims of abuse.
“I said, ‘I will be that person who will back you up. I will be that person who speaks for you,’ ” she said. “My advice is to always let people know where you are. Let them know if you’re leaving your home, if you’re in your home by yourself.”
Awareness
Lucas said spreading awareness about domestic violence is her main passion, and awareness is just one of the steps to stopping domestic violence.
“Preventative measures is another step,” she said. “People can express their opinion about the funding that’s out there and support organizations that are providing safe houses. They can be aware of domestic violence in the workplace. Maybe there’s absenteeism going on.”
Lucas said it’s important to teach the youth that domestic violence is wrong.
“When we teach our youth that violence is not OK, we’re preventing them from being victims or predators of domestic violence,” she said.
“Each and every one of us can really make a difference,” Lucas said. “We can keep our ears and eyes open, teach our youth, contribute time, money and energy to a domestic violence organization. When you contribute, you may pay for a one-night stay for a woman to get away from her home. These programs are life changing.”
She said she believes Witney is smiling down on her every time she spreads awareness about domestic violence, but she knows her work is far from finished.
“I think she would say, ‘You’ve only just begun,’ ” Lucas said. “My priority is making sure her voice is never silenced and I can speak for all the victims of domestic violence. That’s how I will spend the rest of my life.”
She said there is a Federal Violence Against Women office, and she would jump at the chance to work on behalf of it.
Lucas said she believes Vice President-elect Biden will continue the pursuit to end domestic violence.
“Because he is the author of that bill, I’m thinking it’s not something that’s going to be pushed to the side,” Lucas said. “I don’t think he will allow it to happen, and my job is to make sure he doesn’t forget it.”
Middletown, Del. —
