Fernandez, Bronx leaders and victims stand against domestic violence
BY JASON COHEN
With the highest rate of domestic violence
homicides from 2010 to 2018 and the
recent allegations against Senator Luis
Sepulveda, Bronx elected offi cials have
taken notice and are calling for change.
On Jan. 13, Assemblywoman Nathalia
Fernandez held a rally at Joyce Kilmer
Park against domestic violence to show
unity in support of women ad was joined
by Council District 14 Candidate Pierina
Sanchez, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz,
Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.,
Carlene Pinto, NYC Action Lab, Violence
Interruption Program (VIP Mujeres), Latino
Muslims of NY and Not On My Watch
NYC.
“We’re here today to address an issue
that has been a crisis in our community
for much too long,” Fernandez said. “It’s
a real problem when women don’t feel
they can speak up or feel they will not be
heard.
I’m here to say we cannot let that happen
anymore, especially in the Bronx,
where we have the most domestic violence
cases of any borough in the city.”
The lawmaker feels domestic violence
has increased during the pandemic as
many people are stuck home with their
abusers. In fact since COVID-19 her offi ce
has received calls from women who are
victims.
Fernandez also called on Sepulveda to
resign and drop out of the borough president
race, claiming that he is not the type
On Jan. 13, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez held a rally at Joyce Kilmer Park against domestic violence. Photos by Jason Cohen
of leader the Bronx needs.
A few brave women spoke about domestic
violence and the need for women to
stand up for themselves.
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Pinto stressed that machismo and misogyny
by men must end. In addition to being
a survivor of domestic violence, Pinto
also recalled an incident from 2019 when
she interrupted a press conference run by
Sepulveda.
She then claimed that he went up to her
and said “if she did that again she would
have to answer to him.” Needless to say
she was appalled.
“To any organizer who worked with
an elected offi cial and received unwarranted
threats of violence we want you to
come forward,” she said. “We must protect
women.”
Tusha Diaz, the founder of Latino Muslims
for NY, was joined by her friend Glennys
Sanchez. Diaz explained it can be quite
lonely as a victim of domestic violence and
many women don’t know who to turn to.
She stressed that if any woman is in a
being abused they must get help.
“There’s no amount of house and cars
that should keep you in a relationship,”
she said.
Sanchez was stabbed by a partner and
is lucky to be alive. But, she left him, got
her life on track, received help and obtained
a degree.
“I took care of my daughter,” she explained
tearfully. “I got out of the relationship.
If I did it, you can do it.”
8-year-old shot at
Fordham Hill Ovall
BY HAZEL SHAHGHOLI
The father of an 8-year-old boy
who accidentally shot himself inside
their apartment on Monday afternoon
is now facing criminal charges,
police reported.
Rajon Grant, 43, was taken into
custody shortly after the gun went off
and critically injured his son at their
home on Fordham Hill Oval at about
12:30 p.m. on Jan. 18.
Police sources said the boy, who
had found the gun and had been playing
with it, remains hospitalized in
critical condition at NewYork-Presbyterian
Hospital.
Grant currently faces charges
of criminal possession of a weapon
and acting in a manner injurious to
a child. Additional charges against
him may be made depending on the
results of the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information regarding
this incident is asked to call the
NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline
at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish,
1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public
can also submit their tips by logging
onto the Crime Stoppers website
or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls
are strictly confi dential.
This is a developing story, check
back at www.bxtimes.com for updates
soon
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