This week also marks what would have been the 56th birthday of Marsalee Ann Nicholas, Marsy’s Law’s namesake. Marsy’s life was cut tragically short when she was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1983. Her family’s traumatic experience in the wake of Marsy’s death eventually gave rise to the effort to strengthen the rights of crime victims that has spread from Marsy’s home state of California across the nation. As we work towards equal rights for all victims of crime, Marsy’s story presents a powerful real-life example of the broader effort that we are all fighting for.
Our society has reached a deeply pivotal point when we have finally taken steps towards empowering victims to say “Me Too,” “Time’s Up, and “No More.” At this crucial time, Marsy’s legacy is a poignant reminder of the need to change not only our culture, but our laws. To truly put an end to rape, abuse, and assault, we must first be able to hold rapists, abusers, and attackers accountable. We can only hold these criminals accountable if crime victims are willing to come forward, and Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin is fighting every day to empower these survivors to do just that.
At Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin, our team is proud to join with many outstanding organizations throughout Wisconsin to fight for these important issues not only this week, but throughout the year. We thank you all for joining us each day in that fight, and hope that you will also join with us in recognizing No More Week, International Women’s Day, and in remembrance of Marsy Nicholas and all of the other vibrant young women who will not get the chance to celebrate a birthday this year.
Sincerely,
Luke Martz
Wisconsin State Director