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This week, the Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin team would like to welcome several new members to the Wisconsin legislature. We are thrilled at the overwhelming bipartisan support that our legislation received on first consideration, and we’ll need the support of the new members of the Senate and Assembly when we face second consideration in 2019. With the winners of several special elections around the state now sworn in, Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin would like to welcome some new faces to the Wisconsin legislature:

This week, the Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin team is joining with many across the nation in observance of a number of very important events. March 4 – 10 is “No More” week, an international effort to bring individuals, organizations, community leaders, and businesses together to show our commitment to ending domestic violence, sexual assault, and abuse. The effort, which coincides with International Women’s Day on March 8th, is now in its fifth consecutive year.

My name is Magdalena Kozikowska and I am a survivor of sexual assault.

For many victims of violent crime—including myself—it is very difficult to come forward and share this information. The stigma, the emotional stress, and the anxiety that comes with being a victim of sexual assault make it very difficult to talk about your experience—to put your life back together. For me, what made it possible to speak out and to get back on my feet was becoming an advocate for other victims of crime.

It’s been a busy month in Wisconsin! Over the last few weeks, Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin has had the exciting opportunity to partner with some of our state’s most prominent law enforcement organizations for their annual conferences. These events have given us the chance to talk to Sheriffs, Police Chiefs, and other members of the law enforcement community from all over the Badger state and hear about some of their experiences in the line of duty.

This past weekend our field team had the great opportunity to be at the La Crosse Outdoor Show in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Our team spent the weekend operating a booth at this fun event which drew attendees from all over Western Wisconsin!

I’m Teri Jendusa Nicolai, Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin State Chair, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to relate a few of the reasons that I became involved with this important effort. As a survivor of a violent crime, I can tell you firsthand that Marsy’s Law is needed in Wisconsin. The reason I support Marsy’s Law is simple: Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin would elevate the rights of victims to make them equal to the rights of the accused.

I’m Police Chief Frank of Cedarburg and, as your law enforcement officer charged with keeping our community safe, I am proud to support Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin. I’m grateful for this opportunity to explain a bit about why I have joined the more than 100 Chiefs of Police from across our great state who have joined the effort to update Wisconsin’s constitution to secure the rights of crime victims.

I’m Sheriff Wollin of Adams County and I’m pleased to have this opportunity to explain why I joined the growing coalition in support of Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin. As County Sheriff, I encounter victims of crime every day in my line of work. Each time I witness someone being forced into the legal system through no fault of their own, I understand more how important it is to ensure that these crime victims have rights equal to those of their attackers. I also know firsthand that protecting crime victims will hold criminals accountable and encourage more victims to come forward.

That’s why I fully support bipartisan Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin and encourage all of you to do the same

I’m Ashley Albright and I’m the newest member of the Marsy’s Law team in Wisconsin! I graduated from UW-Madison in December of 2017 with a double major in Social Welfare and Legal Studies and a certificate in Criminal Justice. In college, I volunteered at Domestic Abuse Intervention Services working on a crisis line for domestic abuse survivors, as well providing child care at the Canopy Center for children who had experienced abuse and neglect.

I’m extremely excited to have received the opportunity to work as a field representative for Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin. As a survivor of sexual assault, I’ve personally experienced some of the issues which Marsy’s Law is attempting to remedy. After having an event take place which rendered me powerless, I know firsthand how difficult it is to stand by while a case is being made that doesn’t take the emotions of the victim into account.

Although my experience was incredibly traumatic, I believe that as a member of the Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin campaign, my personal understanding of the importance of this effort will make me that much more driven towards helping to make it a reality. I am very excited to work towards a more equitable allocation of rights for victims and perpetrators of crimes and look forward to what is to come.

Sincerely,

Ashley