I am appalled that once again an alleged domestic violence perpetrator’s sports career is so important that his girlfriend’s life, in comparison, is nothing.
Police investigating an incident at Belltown Billiards interviewed three witnesses who said that Sean Locklear, a starting offensive lineman of the Seahawks, grabbed his girlfriend around the neck with both hands and pushed her into a doorway. He argued with her because she had danced with another man.
I guess it’s OK to strangle your partner – especially if she dances with someone without your permission. It looks like coach Mike Holmgren is placing his coaching job ahead of his manhood and is allowing the message to resonate that athletes are above reproach by virtue of their just being athletes, and that the welfare of our sisters, mothers and daughters aren’t worth troubling over if a “big game” is on the line.
I am sick and tired of domestic violence being overlooked as a small matter, especially if the victim states “nothing happened.” It is common for a victim to state that nothing happened or later recant. She has just been abused by her partner and knows what he is capable of! Why shouldn’t she say “nothing happened”?
Every day there are women killed by their abusive partners. Perpetrators don’t just wake one morning and decide to kill them. It starts with incidents being overlooked or excused; so often they get talked about as being unfortunate indiscretions that were blown out of proportion.
When will men, especially those with the power to do so (Hey Coach Holmgren!) step up and hold other men accountable? We as women have been trying to do so for many years and we’re still seeing the results of that every night on the news.
Debi Demiglio
Lake Stevens
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