How dare we demand safety for ourselves and our children? How dare we turn to the very systems designed to protect us when our homes become battlegrounds and our autonomy is questioned?

I am a survivor of domestic abuse and a mother. I know firsthand the overwhelming obstacles survivors face when trying to protect themselves and their children. Escaping abuse is not as simple as walking away. It often means entering a legal system where survivors must repeatedly explain, defend, and justify why they need protection.

I have experienced what it feels like to carry the responsibility of protecting my children while navigating threats, legal challenges, and barriers to support. Instead of receiving immediate protection, survivors are too often placed in the position of proving why they deserve safety. Every court appearance, every report, and every request for assistance can feel like another hurdle in a journey that is already exhausting.

For families like mine, the challenges extend beyond the home. When intimidation, harassment, or interference affects a child's education, medical care, or overall well-being, survivors are forced to fight on multiple fronts. Parents should not have to choose between protecting their children and being believed.

As the mother of neurodivergent children, I have also witnessed how families can be misunderstood and judged rather than supported. Survivors and their children deserve systems that recognize their unique needs and provide meaningful protection without unnecessary barriers.

That is why I am calling on legislators to:

Strengthen legal protections for domestic abuse survivors and their children.
Improve access to protective orders and enforcement of violations.
Expand legal advocacy and support services for survivors navigating family court.
Ensure courts prioritize the safety and well-being of children when abuse allegations are present.
Provide stronger protections against harassment, intimidation, and interference that impact survivors and their families.
Safety should not be something survivors have to earn through endless explanations. Protection should not depend on how well someone can tell their story in a courtroom. Every survivor deserves the opportunity not only to escape abuse, but to rebuild a life free from fear.

We need a legal framework that supports survivors, protects children, and holds offenders accountable. As a resident in the state of Louisiana, having traveled here for better protections due to the inadequate and unsafe methods for victims in Rhode Island, I believe much of their current efforts can lead the way by creating stronger protections that empower families to move forward safely and with dignity throughout the other 49 states. 

Sign this petition today and urge lawmakers to strengthen legal protections for domestic abuse survivors and their children. Together, we can create a system that stands with survivors instead of forcing them to ask, "How dare we seek justice?"