CHICAGO - To mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will rally Saturday with Chicago Ald. Deborah Graham, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, State Reps. Karen Yarbrough and Camille Lilly and other female community leaders to end domestic violence. Simon will call on churches, schools and community organizations to stand up to violence throughout Chicagoland.
Simon, a former prosecutor and founder of a domestic violence legal clinic at Southern Illinois University, is doing her part to help survivors by conducting a second annual cell phone drive. For each phone collected by Simon's office through Friday, October 12, Verizon Wireless will donate $10 to the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The proceeds will benefit the Virtual Legal Clinic, which aims to connect Chicago attorneys with survivors in underserved areas across the state for free, web-based legal consultations.
In Chicago, used phones can be donated at the rally; at the Lt. Governor's office, 100 W. Randolph St., Suite 15-200; or at the Chicago Bar Association front desk, 321 S. Plymouth Court. Springfield donations will be accepted at Simon's capitol office or the Illinois State Bar Association, 424. South Second St. Phones can also be donated at Simon's Carbondale office or a local Verizon Wireless store.
"We need to raise the awareness of domestic violence in our communities and rally together to end the violence," Simon said. "Each of us has a role to play in making sure survivors' voices are heard and their lives are protected."
DATE: Saturday, October 6
TIME: 10 a.m.
LOCATION: Hope Community Church, 5900 West Iowa, Chicago
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