SENATE RESOLUTION

                             1998-8720

By Senators Wojahn, Rasmussen, Thibaudeau, B. Sheldon, Fairley, Bauer, Spanel, Loveland, Franklin and Roach

     WHEREAS, Domestic violence is a long-standing and pervasive problem in our society, and

     WHEREAS, Women are more often victims of domestic violence than victims of burglary, mugging, or all other physical crimes combined; and

     WHEREAS, Making the public aware of the results and consequences of domestic violence is an important tool in combating domestic violence; and

     WHEREAS, The Silent Witness Initiative began in Minnesota in 1990 to promote peace, healing and responsibility in adult relationships in order to eliminate domestic murders in the United States by 2010, and

     WHEREAS, A Silent Witness Exhibit consisting of life-size plywood figures was developed to commemorate the thirty Washington State women who lost their lives in 1995  as a result of domestic violence at the hands of their husband, lover, or ex-lover;  and

     WHEREAS, A thirty-first life-size silhouette was added to the state exhibit to honor women whose murders went unsolved or were erroneously ruled accidental; and

     WHEREAS, The Washington State Silent Witness Exhibit traveled to Washington, D.C. in October, 1997, to join 1,500 other figures from all 50 states in the March to End the Silence; and

     WHEREAS, The Silent Witness Exhibit will be on display in the State Capitol for a week beginning March 9, 1998;

     NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Washington acknowledges the hard work and dedication of those responsible for producing and displaying the exhibit, especially Michelle Smith, Sheri Yeatts, Judy Frame, and Nancy Newman, plus Mary Pontarolo, Executive Director of the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

I, Mike O=Connell, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1998-8720,

adopted by the Senate March 9, 1998.

MIKE O=CONNELL

Secretary of the Senate