DNC Chair Tom Perez and DNC Women’s Caucus Chair Lottie Shackelford released the following statement on the anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) becoming law:

“26 years ago, America made a powerful stand for women across the nation. Our leaders joined together, across party lines, to make a promise to end the scourge of domestic violence against women in every community. For more than a quarter-century now, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has provided critical services and protections for victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse, and has been reauthorized and expanded to include protections for LGBTQ, immigrant, and Native American women, who face violence at a disproportionate rate.

“Joe Biden wrote this law because of his fierce commitment to ensuring all women can live free from fear. And he has continued to champion the rights and safety of women across the country. Of course, our work is far from finished. Far too many women still face abuse, harassment, intimidation, and physical and emotional violence on a regular basis. And yet, Donald Trump has fought to weaken VAWA and its protections.

“We cannot afford four more years of a president who turns his back on women. We must elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in November. We must lift up and support the survivors of these horrors; we must continue to change the way our society thinks about these issues; and we must combat unequivocally the mindset that blames a bruised woman for the actions of a brutal man.”