Coercive control is a serious form of domestic abuse that significantly impacts the lives of victims, their families, and the wider community. It is not often spoken about or understood as much as other forms of domestic violence. However, in Winter Park, Florida, we face an alarming increase in cases of coercive control. With an average of 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experiencing severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fear, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, (according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence), it is time to take action against this epidemic.

This petition seeks to raise awareness about coercive control and to lobby local governmental bodies and law enforcement agencies in Winter Park to better recognize and address this issue. Coercive control can include a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate, isolate them, control, degrade and intimidate them. The victims are denied basic rights and liberties and it is our duty to shed light on this, to better protect our community. By signing this petition, you help to stand against coercive control in Winter Park and push for change from our law enforcement and leadership bodies to take strong action. Please, sign today.