TAMPA — U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor held a news conference Tuesday to call attention to the plight of domestic violence victims, noting the national spotlight the issue has gained in the wake of the suspension of NFL player Ray Rice.
Castor appeared at the Spring Boutique, a South Tampa re-sale store that supports domestic violence victims. With her were representatives from Bay Area Legal Services, a group that offers legal counsel to victims, and Patty Perez, an abuse survivor and founder of the nonprofit Means of Hope Foundation.
They spoke of domestic violence as a problem that endures even as it fades from headlines and pointed to the numerous community services that are available to victims.
Castor's event was scheduled to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Violence Against Women Act, which secured federal funds for the prosecution of domestic violence cases.