This post is a bit of a diversion from usual Stylish Thought fare; but essentially it is about the position of women in our society and the grave injustice that exists when a pregnant woman is beaten and dies in broad daylight at the hands of 5 men.
Yesterday in Philadelphia, Tovoyia Owens was beaten outside of the Municipal Traffic Court building by a gang of 5 men, one being her ex-boyfriend. As a result of the beating Tovoyia suffered head trauma and died. Not only was Tovoyia a mother, she was a college student and was pregnant at the time of the beating.
There are no words to express the grave sympathy that goes out to the Owens family and there are no true words to express these despicable circumstances, but there has to be recognition and attention paid to this because living in a world where violence against women is allowed to run rampant and continues to increase is unacceptable. Tovoyia can not become just another statistic, swept under the rug of the justice system or added to the growing list of domestic violence and deaths at the hands of such violence.
We must remember because:
One in four women (25%) has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime.
Women accounted for 85% of the victims of intimate partner violence, men for approximately 15%.
Women ages 20-24 are at the greatest risk of nonfatal intimate partner violence.
On average, more than three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partners in this country every day.
If one woman dies at the hands of violence, it’s one too many.
You have to be f*cking kidding me. This makes my heart hurt, not just for women, but for humanity in general. It also makes me more than a little stabby.
Yes, it is a sad day for humanity when things like this occur. Truly tragic
I can’t see how people could just stand around and watch this young pregnant women get beat to death…someone had to hear her scream for help. That could have been my sister/ cousin, how could ANYONE STAND AND WATCH SOMEONE GET BEAT TO DEATH. My heart & prayer goes out to Tovoyia Owens family.
It unconscionable to think that no one tried to intervene or go get help. Her family certainly needs our prayers.
when will we learn to let things go and to move forth..to not hold grudges and to forget and forgive…when will we see that we are hurting each other..we need to come together and cut the non sense out..all this taken to this level for what? no matter what the case is no MAN should lay hands on a women…a GROUP of men at that. Would you want someone doing that to your Mom or Grandmom or Sister niece aunt whatever…its horrible…humiliation and death played a role in this…people to need to realize and think befor they act..but her fam are in my prayers…Leave it to GOD he will take care of this…
Milaan, I seriously don’t think they evaluated their actions before they went to the court and planned to confront her and her boyfriend. Senseless is exactly what it is and because of it a child is without a mother. Thanks for your insightful thoughts.
What in the hell would make 5 men assault and kill a pregnant woman. What reason could they have possible for taking two lives.
I seriously don’t think people would learn the pain that they bought to this young women’s family, not only that they knew she was pregnant and they continued to beat her until she was lifeless.. Those are not men who confronted her they where ANIMALS. I can’t respect all those who stood & watched Tovoyia get killed, that was the utmost DISRESPECT anyone could do knowing DAMN WELL THEY HEARD HER CRY FOR HELP….AND YET THEY DONE NOTHING. This world is filled with so much hatered this shouldn’t even happened all them so called, yes I said “so called gangster’s couldn’t help her what about them women or better yet where was the cops, when all of this was going on: eating a damn donut or drinking coffee. Why do we even need cops when they can’t even protect us..why pay them for fucked up services?
I realize people don’t want to get involved because they feel they should mind their own business, but this IS our business when it’s happening in public for all to see. There is no way I could stand there and watch a human being get beat to death as they cry for help. And just so I am making myself clear, I not only blame the vicious thugs who are responsible for this but I also blame those who stood nearby and did nothing to help.
Wow….was she visibly pregnant? Regardless I can’t believe something like this could occur. When was it ok for men (and a group at that) could put a beat down on a woman? Utterly revolting.
Amanda, I’m not sure if she was visibly pregnant but I agree that regardless what business do 5 guys (let alone 1) have putting their hands on any woman.
My heart hurt when I heard this, this has got to stop. Senseless.
Greetings:
This message is to let you know that we will be remembering Tovoyia Owens and many others who have been murdered, raped, exploited, etc. as we KICK OFF the National Campaign for the Elimination of Violence and Abuse of Women and Girls of African Descent. The “Kick Off” Enough Is Enough Rally will take place on Sat. May 12, 2012, (the day before Mother’s Day) from 3-5:30 PM at LOVE Park located at 15th & JFK The “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” National Campaign is one of the official MWM “Direct Action” Programs that will provide greater awareness, in depth analysis for prevention and healing , support services, etc. The MWM Black Women’s Defense League is committed to the protection, defense, and upliftment of females of African descent.