[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 56 (Monday, May 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S3938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            FAMILY PEACE DAY

  Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the first-annual Family Peace Day in Chicago, IL.
  The goal of Family Peace Day is to focus attention on domestic abuse 
issues, how to combat domestic violence and build healthy families, to 
address legal issues and to inform Illinois citizens of the resources 
available to combat domestic violence.
  Family Peace Day is a joint project of the Women's Bar Association of 
Illinois and the Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, 
Inc. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow of 
the Illinois Supreme Court, Chief Judge Donald O'Connell of the Circuit 
Court of Cook County, and Cook County Board President John H. Stroger, 
Jr., are serving as honorary cochairs. Additional supporters include 
Attorney General James Ryan, Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's 
Domestic Violence Network, Chicago Public Schools, Chief Judge Donald 
O'Connell's Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Cook County State's 
Attorney Richard Devine, the Department of Children and Family 
Services, Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council, and many 
legal, judicial, health care, social service and nonprofit 
organizations, including the American Medical Association, the 
Archdiocese of Chicago, the Chicago Police Department, the Council for 
the Jewish Elderly, the John Marshall Law School, the Mujeres Latinas 
En Accion, and the Peace Museum. I commend these individuals and 
organizations for working together to help victims of domestic abuse 
and to teach individuals how to combat domestic violence and build 
healthy families.
  The Family Peace Day activities will begin with a press conference 
kickoff rally and award presentation to Chicago public school student 
winners of poetry, prose, and poster contests depicting their vision of 
a healthy family. There will be an Expo consisting of booths providing 
the public free legal and medical advice and counseling or referrals 
from social service providers, health care providers, and attorneys 
practicing family law. At noon there will be a luncheon awards ceremony 
at the Palmer House Hilton, sponsored by the Circuit Court of Cook 
County, to honor those who have made significant contributions to the 
administration of justice in the areas of domestic violence and abuse.
  There can be no more important goal than healthy, safe, and strong 
families. I am proud that Chicago is taking the lead in holding the 
first Family Peace Day and I look forward to communities around the 
country joining in with their own Family Peace Day activities.

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