Andrea Flores UTRGV Police Department’s Victim Services organized “Vaqueros Stand Up Against Domestic Violence” to tackle domestic violence by educating the community, raising awareness and providing resources to tackle this issue.
The event included speaker and UT Pan American alumna Amelia Flores, who shared her story. Flores said she was physically assaulted just after a few days of being married. She added that one of the reasons why she stayed silent at the time was because she felt afraid and ashamed.
“I am neither. I was a victim. I was a survivor. And now, I am victorious,” Flores said. “I am blessed to continue to be able to work with victims.”
In an interview with KVAQ-TV, UTRGV Assistant Chief of Police Van Slusser said domestic violence constitutes any kind of abuse from an intimate partner, including those in a dating, married, or family relationship.
“Unfortunately, it’s all too common,” Slusser said. “The evidence of the community support for an event like this shows that there is a real need out there.”
According to Hidalgo County District Attorney Toribio “Terry” Palacios, the county handles an average of over 25 cases every day.
Sexual Assault Community Advocate for Mujeres Unidas Alma Martinez said one of the common misconceptions of domestic violence is that it’s an issue that only women face—while this is not true.
“We do have male victims out there,” Martinez said. “Our name is Mujeres Unidas because back then that was where we saw the most need; however, with more education and more research, it’s showing that men are just as much victims as women are.”
Martinez emphasized that domestic violence is not just physical, saying it can also be verbal or psychological.
Office for Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention Director Cynthia Jones said their focus is to help anyone who has experienced violence to overcome any trauma and move forward.
She advised people to understand that for someone facing domestic violence—in any form—it is not easy to simply leave a relationship, especially when the abuse is not physical.
“If you are a victim of abuse, find your voice,” Flores said. “There’s more support around you than you think. You just need to look for it.”
OAVP services include free and confidential individual counseling and a support group. To reach out, call 956-665-8287.
