When I grew up I was always taught that the police are your friends.  If you ever need help, go to the police.  The job of the police is to serve and protect.  So, let’s begin here.  The other day I got into a minor fender bender in a parking lot.  The other party said it was minor so we’d take care of it on our own.  It didn’t work out that way so I called the Fagatogo police station that evening and asked them what I needed to do.  Because it was late I was told to visit the nearest station the next day to file my statement.  Well, I couldn’t make it the next day because of important meetings I had to attend, but I did go the following day.   
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Understanding what victims of domestic/sexual violence go thru
What happened next made me think about, what victims of domestic/sexual violence must go through when they are looking for assistance from law enforcement or first responders.
As a victim advocate, I know what an effective response should look like.  In this case, it was not that.  Before I even sat down the officer was already shaking his head.  I had not even open my mouth to explain why I was there before he told me he was going to give me two citations. 
Why was I being treated like I was a criminal?
I was still shaken up and very nervous from the accident.  After all, it is not every day that a person gets into a minor fender bender, I did not know the process.  I thought I was doing the right thing yet why I was being treated like I did something wrong.   
He said, the two citations are for 1) because I got into a car accident and 2) because it was more than 24-hours after the incident.  I told the officer, “But it wasn’t my fault.”  He said it doesn’t matter. 

Lack of understanding of the system
I then said, “Show me where does it say all this, that I get 2 citations?  I have never heard of this before.  I came to you for assistance.  You didn’t pull me over somewhere.”  It was then that he ordered me to leave the station immediately, which I did.
I ended up going to Fagatogo police station, Traffic Division, the next day.  They said the same thing.  When I said that I needed to file a statement for the police report for the car insurance company they said no, I’m not allowed to.  They said, “tell it to the judge if you decide to fight the citation.” 
   
Re-victimization
I felt that was a terrible experience.  The officers seemed cold and unemotional to me, and I was never asked if I was okay.  I was never asked if I needed help. I was never asked if I understood what was available to me. I was more traumatized by the process than by the incident.
At the Alliance office where I work, I have interviewed victims of domestic/sexual violence and when asked why they didn’t report to the Police, one victim/survivor commented, “I didn’t know what to feel or do, it was complete confusion.”  Others have commented they didn’t report because, 1) they get the run-around (e.g. told to go to agency a, b, c, and d) 2) victim-blaming, 3) being threatened to be taken to jail, 4) lack of trust in the system, 5) lack of confidentiality and 6) re-victimization. 
*If you are a victim of domestic/sexual violence or know someone who is a victim there are community advocates available.  It is important that they have a victim advocate who is familiar with the system and can be a voice for them and provide support and assistance. For more information contact Mona Uli, at the Alliance 699-0272 or email:asadsv@gmail.com

Written by:  Marilyn Ho Ching, Media Coordinator

During the month of August The Alliance team shared nuggets and pieces on the significance on Women’s Equality Day. The nuggets provided information on dismantling gender oppression and how it relates to our local community. Women’s oppression still exists today. In our local society some of our women’s oppression gravitates around our Samoan cultural system and beliefs. To ensure equity it is important we begin to dismantle gender oppression and create a foundation where men and women are equal. Women’s equality day helps us to understand and see the inequity that women before and now face.

 A century ago, on August 26th, Women’s Equality Day became a day to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment in the United States Constitution. The 19th Amendment grants Women’s their right to vote. Women's Equality Day resulted from the start of the women’s suffrage movement in the 1840’s. For almost 2 centuries women have fought for their rights and equality. Many women advocates over this period of time have aided and helped to decrease the lack of gender equality. Women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfry have fought for women’s rights and equality. These women were and are change agents in regards to dismantling women’s oppression nationally and globally. 

Some achievements that women have gained are education, running businesses, participating in the workforce, participating in political activities and much more. Locally, a handful of our women have created history for our territory. Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen is the first woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from American Samoa. Another woman who’s paved a way for women in American Samoa is Andrea Samoa who is the only woman who sits in the fono. Recently, Jessop Taase was just appointed the first woman to serve as American Samoa’s Attorney General (AG). 

 However, the reality of a gender equality based foundation has still yet to be achieved, not only locally but globally. Women continue to experience discrimination, inequality and violence. There needs to be a shift in the roles we place on women, men, and fa'afafine in American Samoa. When we see each other as equal, we dismantle the attitudes, and prerequisites that promote stereotyping of social roles primarily based on gender. For the rest of the month we will continue to raise awareness on women’s equality and commemorate the holiday celebrated on the 26th. ​

Written by:  Media Coordinator, Marilyn Ho Ching
We had the privilege and opportunity to conduct a podcast session with Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen. Amata was born in Washington DC and moved to Samoa as an infant, she was raised in the village of Pago Pago. Her father was the late Governor Peter Tali Coleman.

 She reminisced about young days with her father, listening to him and being very interested in politics. She recounts how she was very close to him and encouraged her to never forget about the people of American Samoa. Amata holds a psychology degree and had intended on pursuing a career in Social Work but found politics to be much more fascinating. 

When she told her father that she wanted to run for Congresswoman, he advised her that he would be difficult as she was a woman and that it would take her 20 years before she would win. It actually took her 22 years before she would take the congressional seat. She states that she is a public servant voted by the people of the territory to serve and will continue to work tirelessly for the territory. 

The Alliance invited Amata to be our guest speaker for our podcast in light of Women’s Equality Awareness. We asked questions about challenges that she faces as a woman in a predominantly male realm to her thoughts on Kamala Harris being selected to run as Vice President for the Democratic party. It is an informative and entertaining podcast.

Tune in next month when it will be available. 
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Written by: Jennifer Tofaeono, Executive Director
Over the last two weeks there were four(4) reported suicides.  I am not privy as to why, but I believe for an island our size, our nuclear family, as well as extended family, it raises questions.  How could this happen? Why did it happen? Could I have done something differently?  We mourn loved ones lost to suicide as well as friends who have lost someone to suicide. They are our siblings, our children, our grandchildren, our neighbors, someone important.
 “How do we fix this?”  I would like immediate action  yet sometimes the best reaction is to take a few steps back, and identify the issues.  As the Executive Director for the American Samoa Alliance, one of our strategic objective is to increase awareness about violence.  Our purpose is to help our community build an intolerance to violence, to change mindsets to  solve some of these issues that heavily impact our island.  I feel that our mission to empower individuals in community aligns with the fight against suicide.  The approach to building intolerance against violence should be the same for suicide within our community.  
 Research regarding sexual assault is associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation, attempts and death by suicide.  Sexual assault has been found to increase the risk for death by suicide by as much as 14 times for female victims compared to women who have never been assaulted (Gradus et al, 2012).  Victims with a history of childhood sexual assault/abuse are identified as significant risk factor for suicidal behavior. 2014 Pacific Islands Report identified suicide rates in Pacific Islands as some of the highest in the world, and Samoa was identified as one of the Islands.
  A popular Pacific Island Maori movie “Once were Warriors” the daughter Grace Heke commits suicide because of sexual assault.  The impacts of sexual assault on a victim even years after the assault will continue to play havoc on victim’s wellness.  A Netflix 2016 documentary Audrie & Daisy followed two young girls sexually abused.  Audrie committed suicide before filming at the age of 15.  Daisy committed suicide, August 5, 2020 at the age of 23, nine years after her assault.  As I sit here, I  wonder what do can we do with all this?  Through our work at the Alliance we focus on awareness, and I believe that is the first step to addressing suicide. 
The common misconceptions about suicide, is a person who attempts to harm themselves must be crazy.  When in fact suicidal people are not insane, or crazy.  Being upset, depressed, carrying grief—and being distressed is not a sign of a mental illness, but a cry for help or support.  Another misconception is if we talk about suicide, it gives someone the idea.  Studies show when you talk openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings you may help to save a life. Some people may believe that if someone talks about suicide, they are not going to really do it.  Wherein fact suicidal people provide a warning or clue, and its important the we listen to them.  They may jokingly say, “You’ll be sorry when I’m gone,” or “I’m anxious, and I cannot find a way out” this could be a sign of having suicidal feelings.  It is important we recognize how suicide happens, and use it as a vehicle to end suffering that has become extremely horrendous.
If there is someone you know  that you feel has suicidal tendencies it can be difficult to approach them, but the best thing to do is have a conversation.  Giving a suicidal person the chance to share their feelings can help them break from negative feelings, loneliness or pain. You can begin a conversation by saying, “I wanted to check in with you, because it seems like something is bothering you.” As you continue the conversation you can ask them, “How long have you felt this way?”, or “When did this start?” Providing support statements such as, “You are not alone. I’m here for you,” or “It may seem like your feelings won’t change, but they will,” or “It may be hard for me to understand how you feel, but know that I’m here to help, and that I care for you.”  These crucial conversations are the start to providing help to our loved ones. 

​​Important numbers:   Emergency call 911.  For Suicide Prevention call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 for free confidential, 24/7 help.  You can also connect with various Suicide Helpline Chats online chat groups at:https://www.suicidestop.com/suicide_prevention_chat_usa.html   
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