My name is Sharone Butler and I need your help.

On July 28, 2021, my whole life changed when my estranged husband terrorized me at knife point, vandalized my home and attempted to strangle me to death. Sadly, that was not the first time I have suffered abuse at his hand or other members of my family, nor was it the first time I was victimized by a system that was sworn to protect us.

This unfortunate night resulted in my rights as a victim, a person with medical conditions that meet the definition of disabilities and a tenant in the state of Virginia being violated.  My rights were violated by judicial representatives, domestic violence shelters and advocates and four apartment complexes, who ALL denied me the right to renew, rent and or apply for an apartment all because I applied for Covid Rental Relief funds. They collectively tried to use my known medical condition to force me out of my home.

I am asking for your help because I am being harassed daily by the tenants in my building who have full knowledge of my medical conditions and have repeatedly told me to just move.  I am forced to live across the street from the family of my abuser, who now undoubtedly know where I live. I have been in contact with HUD who is well outside of their 100-day investigative window and is refusing to communicate.   I have also filed the necessary complaints with the Department of Professional Occupational Regulations (DPOR), who initially dismissed the complaint without even contacting the witnesses listed or requesting additional information. I have also reached out to several attorneys, who while acknowledged the merits of my case would not take it on because it sheds light on a much bigger issue, government sanctioned racial disparities and discrimination in the communities of people of color.

It goes without saying that minority communities don’t receive the same consideration as affluent communities and because of this we are faced with a set of circumstances that tend to lead to the overt discriminatory actions such as those that are evident in my case which would also include sexual harassment by a public figure.

My prayer is that with your help I can get answers, a just and timely resolution, and an audience with policy makers to discuss ways we can prevent situations like mine from happening in the future. I am asking as an organization rooted in the empowerment of women, you sign my petition calling for a review and rewrite of policies governing domestic violence, housing discrimination and judicial misconduct.

I pray you would agree we have nothing to lose and everything to gain by standing in solidarity in protest of the grave miscarriage of justice and infringement of mine and other victim rights. If so, please sign and share this petition.

Sincerely,

Sharone Butler