NEW YORK CITY, Jan. 5, 2009 – The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services has issued a report that lists 58% of all female homicide victims are at the hands of domestic violence. With the rate of abuse increasing in the United States, victim and female rapper Queen Pen is taking a stand for battered women and asking the NYC community and leaders for support and change at a press conference Friday, January 16th. The press conference will be lead by Queen Pen, NY Senator Eric Adams, and Persia (Vh1's White Rapper Show), at the Denim Lounge (1223 Bedford Ave) in Brooklyn at 4pm.


In a press release issued by the NYS DCJS, 55% of female homicides are directly linked to a domestic incident, a story Lynise Walters aka Queen Pen knows all too well. After being hospitalized in January and beat unconscious, merely being a survivor of domestic abuse is not enough for Queen Pen. Several run-ins with an ex-boyfriend proved to Walters that she couldn't handle the abuse on her own and contacted police in June 2008. "It took 31 minutes for police to respond to a 911 call," Walters said after she spotted her attacker outside of her home days
after a brawl between the two. "If my life is taken away or I can't provide for my children, who's going to take care of them?" said Pen, whose fundraising and mentoring work with victims was commended by Gov. David Paterson.


Queen Pen declares to "Make a change with domestic violence victims and the legislation" through her organization
Silent Cries.


At 4pm, Walters, New York Senator Eric Adams, Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries, Executive Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis-Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Former New York Knicks Player & Activist John Starks, Persia from The White Rapper show, and Nefu Da Don will join together in a press conference to rally against domestic violence and ask the New York community for change. Hip Hop Performer Lil Mama, The Hudson-King Foundation and Greg King, (father of Hudson's nephew, Julian King) are also a special invited guests to the January
press conference on domestic violence.


Many of Pen's supporters have witnessed firsthand the terrors of domestic violence. Female emcee hopeful Persia (VH1's White Rapper Show) is now working with Queen Pen to advocate harsh domestic violence punishment against assailants in domestic cases after she was arrested for gun possession to protect her mother, and 6-month old child from an estranged ex. "I was involved in an abusive relationship which led to him trying to kill me," Persia says. "I felt I had no choice but to protect myself." Terrified for her family's safety, Persia acquired an unregistered
loaded weapon that resulted in her arrest after a routine traffic stop. "I'm advocating in hopes that the laws can be in favor to the abused and we won't have to fear for our lives any longer." Queen Pen hopes this press conference will rally attention to the cause and push for more legislation in domestic violence cases.


Watch Intersections Trailer featuring Persia and Queen Pen at bottom of page.


Photos from the Press Day by Greg Frederick:
New York Senator Eric Adams, Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries, Former New York Knicks Player & Activist John Starks, Persia from “The White Rapper show” and Ernest Jackson of MNS Media Group