Choose Respect rallies scheduled in Valley Thursday

MAT-SU — The Mat-Su Borough has one of the fastest-rising populations in the United States, with U.S. Census figures showing the population here has grown about 50 percent from 2000 to 2010.

Judy Gette, however, has seen that upswing in a more troubling way, with a rising number of cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

“Two legal advocates at the courthouse helped draft 700 protective orders for domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking in 2010,” said Gette, Alaska Family Services’ director of domestic violence and sexual assault programs. “We’re certainly feeling the increase in all the programs we offer. There were 40 men actively attending the batterers intervention program when I first started seven years ago. Now we have 61, not counting all the men who are in noncompliance. The majority are court-ordered as the result of a criminal case, protective order, custody case.”

Alaska Family Services, in conjunction with the Office of the Governor and nonprofit groups across the state, hope to reverse the trend by sponsoring Choose Respect marches and rallies in Palmer and Wasilla on Thursday. These events are intended to raise awareness of Alaska’s epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Palmer and Wasilla Choose Respect marches are scheduled from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day. Participants in Palmer will march from the Fred Meyer parking lot, 650 S. Cobb St., to the Mat-Su Borough building, where Gette, Palmer Mayor Delena Johnson, Alaska Department of Corrections Commissioner Joe Schmidt and a domestic violence victim will speak.

Wasilla participants will meet in the Valley Performing Arts parking lot, 251 W. Swanson Ave., and march to the fire station on Swanson Avenue. Alaska Family Services President and CEO Donn Bennice, Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright, Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell and a domestic violence victim will speak.

Last year’s Choose Respect event involved 13 communities. This year, 43 communities are taking part. More than 50 people participated in Palmer’s Choose Respect march last year.

People who want more information may contact Gette at 746-6249 or email her at judyg@akafs.org.

The Alaska Family Services shelter in Palmer provides nearly 8,000 shelter nights a year and serves nearly 160 women and children in the shelter annually, Gette said.

“The women who come in to the shelter are women who do not have other resources,” Gette said. “Others may stay with a friend or family member, or have money and can get a new place for themselves.”

Gette said she thinks the march is important because it lets the community know about available resources.

“It sends a real strong message in the community that we’re not going to tolerate abuse in our community, that people will speak up and intervene,” she said.