Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Volume 154 No. 30 WWW.SJSUNEWS.COM/SPARTAN_DAILY
SERVING SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1934
COVID-19
Pandemic raises abuse concerns By Gia Pham STAFF WRITER
Months-long shelter-in-place orders may flatten the curve for communities, but they leave a segment of the population vulnerable to other dangers. For those dealing with domestic abuse, staying home is not a safe option. “Research, including those from the World Health Organization, shows that during times of health emergencies and natural disasters there tends to be a spike in violence in communities, particularly in intimate partner violence,” said Esther Peralez-Dieckmann, executive director of Next Door Solutions, a domestic violence agency in Santa Clara County that helps victims and survivors leave violent situations.
Perpetrators are trying to sort of get on the good side of the victim to say, ‘This is a terrible time, we’re all at risk. I want to see my kids.’ Esther Peralez-Dieckmann executive director of Next Door Solutions
According to a 2011 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey indicated that one in five women and nearly one in seven men in the U.S. experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner at some point in their life.
Comparing Jan. 5 to March 21 of last year and the same time frame this year, domestic rape and domestic violence cases increased about 26% according to a 2019-20 yearly comparison chart from the San Jose Police Department. Peralez-Dieckmann said she had seen a higher-than-average call rate and more walk-in appointments around late February when concerns over the coronavirus crisis became more intense in the community. “The week before all this happened and the shelter-inplace order went into effect, we were already seeing quite a bit of people coming through,” PeralezDieckmann said. ABUSE | Page 2
ONE IN FIVE WOMEN AND
ONE IN SEVEN MEN
experienced physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. INFOGRAPHIC BY MARCI SUELA
COVID-19
Advocates, city to reduce contagion among unsheltered By Brian So STAFF WRITER
While the attempts to flatten the curve and minimize the spread of the coronavirus to vulnerable populations continue, the homeless community may be left out. “Our most vulnerable neighbors are living in fear with little to no information or support regarding the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Pastor Paul Bains, founder of Project WeHOPE, in a phone interview with the Spartan Daily. Project WeHOPE has partnered with the City of San Jose to accomplish its goals of preventing COVID-19 from reaching homeless encampments in San Jose. “WeHOPE, in partnership with the City of San Jose, has developed a plan to address the needs of the homeless living in encampments, while protecting the community as a whole from further spread of the virus,” Bains said.
Alongside city workers, Project WeHOPE volunteers provide installations of handwashing stations, laundry services and shower services near 14 homeless encampments in Santa Clara County. “We are grateful to partners like WeHOPE who continue to keep our most vulnerable residents’ health and safety as a top priority,” said Mayor Sam Liccardo in a March 15 news release. “This is a time for our community to stay strong . . . We are better together and WeHOPE is the perfect example of looking out for all our neighbors.” To assist homeless communities, Project WeHOPE also deploys the Hope Health Mobile Vehicle, which provides virtual doctor appointments to the encampment sites. Case managers will also provide hygiene education support, as well as distribute clean drinking water, hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, fresh HOMELESSNESS | Page 2
JOHN BRICKER | SPARTAN DAILY ARCHIVES
Homeless San Jose resident Richard Avila charges his phone at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library on Oct. 24, 2019.
GIA PHAM | SPARTAN DAILY
Jose Mancillas, Silently Loud Collective member and artist, squats in front of his “Protect the Sacred” mural on Sunset Avenue in San Jose. The mural focuses on the divine femininity of indigenous cultures.
Sexual assault survivors group breaks the silence By Gia Pham STAFF WRITER
Faded green sage, blueish-violet flowers, pebbles of dried tree resin, fresh palo santo sticks are tossed together and strewn across the floor. The aromatics set the ambiance for a healing space hosted by the Silently Loud Collective, sexual assault survivors support group. The group aims to offer spiritual spaces where indigenous people of color can share their experiences while still celebrating their culture and remaining true to their roots. Silently Loud Collective was founded in 2018 when Mireya Montalvo, a youth program leader and community activist, shared her sexual assault story during her first benefit show at
Local Color in Downtown San Jose. The show aimed to raise money for local sexual assault survivors. “We chose Silently Loud because often everybody has stories worth telling, but are more than likely silenced by either ourselves or others and families,” Montalvo said. “So, it was the name where we could hope to encourage others to either talk about their stories or even just seek the help and the healing that they need.” Montalvo added that sexual assault is most likely to be committed by a family member. From January to September 2019, the San Jose Police Department found that 45% of rape victims and 64% of child molestation victims were of Latino or Mexican descent. About 70% of the adults arrested or cited for the crimes were also of Latino or Mexican descent, according to a Nov. 12,
2019 Sexual Assault Response and Strategy Report from SJPD. “This battle of removing violence against women is very much a battle of regaining our indigenous culture,” said Jose Mancillas, one of member of the group. “We are very proud of our indigenous identities and we make sure to keep those cultures and those traditions alive.” Mancillas explained that sage and other remedial emblems of Latino and Mexican culture as decorations for healing spaces are meant to bring a sense of purity and therapy while also reclaiming culture. “It’s very difficult because once you break out of that silence, some people no longer see you as you. Some people see you as what happened to you,” Mancillas said. “But surely, you know, as a SURVIVORS | Page 2