Remembering Yeardley Love

Yeardley Love had the whole world in front of her. A daughter, sister, and a friend-gone. In the wake of her death lies the stark reminder of how terribly wrong things can go. Her life was taken violently and people are asking how…people are asking why.

The questions are important and sadly it is tragedies like this that focus communities across the country on the glaring reality; dating abuse can lead to death.

Parents and educators need to come together and insist that dating abuse curricula be added to middle schools and high schools across the country. Demanding prevention and awareness programs is one of the most important responses we can have to the many lives that have been cut short as a result of dating violence.

Providing young people with information and resources ensures their ability to identify the warning signs of abuse in a relationship. They need to know the essential steps necessary to break up, steps which include a safety plan for ending the relationship. By arming our young people with information they stand a far greater chance of leading fulfilling lives. Lives that include healthy mutually respectful relationships.

The MADE Coalition: Moms and Dads for Education to Stop Dating Abuse is a national coalition of parents, teachers and concerned citizens who are advocates for ensuring that every middle school and high school in the country is teaching a curriculum on preventing dating relationship violence and abuse. As the California State Action Leader for the MADE Coalition I urge you to join us and have your voice be heard.

Abuse can happen to anyone-no more daughters, no more sisters, no more friends, no one should be loved to death.