Featured

Women’s Advocacy Groups Continue to Apply Pressure to NFL

Published

10 years ago

September 21, 2014

Controversy surrounding domestic and family violence within the NFL has reached a boiling point as women’s advocacy groups are criticizing the NFL for its handling of domestic violence cases and even calling for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to resign.

This backlash continues even despite the league’s newly enacted domestic violence policies, which impose a mandatory six-game suspension without pay for the first domestic offense and a lifetime ban for a second offense.

“There are questions about accountability the NFL must consider,” said Kim Susun, executive director of the West Contra Costa Justice Center. “They must consider (that) their obligation is as an employer and how the actions of these players’ are impacting the organization,” she said.

On Monday, Goodell sent a memo to the NFL teams announcing he will work with four female advisors to create and implement the league’s policies, resources and outreach on issues of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The committee will include Anna Isaacson, the league’s vice president of community affairs and philanthropy; Lisa Friel, former head of the sex crimes prosecution unit in the New York County District Attorney’s Office; Jane Randel, the co-founder of NO MORE, which aims to “raise the profile of and normalize the conversation about domestic violence and sexual assault”; and Rita Smith, the former executive director of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The committee comes months after Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice’s was arrested and charged for assaulting his then-fiancée in February, three weeks after San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald’s arrest for allegedly assaulting his pregnant fiancée and days following Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson charge for child abuse.

Immediately following being charged, Peterson was deactivated from playing, but has since been reactivated and is expected to play this weekend, amid new accusations that he injured another one of his children in 2013 while disciplining him in a car.

Rice has been suspended indefinitely, while McDonald, who is still under investigation, continues to play.

All eyes are on the NFL to see how the newly-adopted domestic violence policy will impact these cases.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

OP-ED: Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize

Don't Miss

Fantasy Queens Step for Homeless Women & Children

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

4 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.