NORTON META TAG

13 March 2015

He actually stoned her, and the MLB continues to do nothing about domestic violence 12MAR15

WHAT a pathetic excuse for a man, and what a disgrace for the MLB to tolerate domestic abuse. To be blunt, if you don't sign this petition you must think domestic violence is OK. From UltraViolet
 

Professional baseball player Tanner Rahier was arrested on Saturday for assaulting his girlfriend by throwing rocks at her, knocking her unconscious.1 It's a horrific story of clear, uncontested abuse, but Major League Baseball (MLB) might look the other way and sign him to the big leagues if we don't speak out. In 25 years, Major League Baseball hasn't sanctioned a single player for domestic violence--making its record on abuse worse than the NFL's.2
The NBA and NHL have removed players who committed domestic violence, and the NFL has even rolled out a sweeping new policy to make sure that abusers don't play. With the news about this latest violent attack, the MLB is under a spotlight in the press. If enough of us speak out quickly, we can generate pressure to force the MLB to finally take a stand against domestic violence. Will you add your name?
 Tell the MLB: "Take domestic violence seriously. Enact a policy to prohibit teams from recruiting players with a record of abuse, and suspend players arrested for assault." 
Sign the petition
Despite the fact that dozens of players have been charged with domestic abuse, the MLB has repeatedly failed to act. From a player who assaulted his wife in front of witnesses and was the starting pitcher for his team the very next day, to a player who pled guilty to punching his pregnant wife and started for the Colorado Rockies on opening day that year, the MLB has looked the other way when it comes to domestic violence.3

The MLB severely punishes players for violations such as taking performance enhancing drugs--players like Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Alex Rodriguez have been suspended or banned from the sport all together.4 But players who've committed reprehensible acts of domestic violence like Julio Lugo, Pedro Astacio, Dante Bichette, Wilfredo Cordero or Andruw Jones keep playing without repercussions.5 Much like the NFL, which until last year took drug use more seriously than domestic violence, the MLB is far more concerned by what players put in their own bodies than the harm they do to others--and it's time for that to change.
Domestic violence is a major problem in this country--1 in 4 women in the US will be abused by a partner.6 Professional athletes are admired and help up as role models, and a position on a major league team is a lucrative, coveted job. Women can't afford to have a major cultural institution like the MLB celebrating and promoting abusers like Rahier.
--Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Adam, Gabriela, Holly, Kaili, Kathy, Onyi, Susan, Clarise, Anathea, Megan, Audine, and Ryan, the UltraViolet team

Sources:
1. Reds minor leaguer accused of hitting girlfriend with rock, USA Today, March 10, 2015

2. MLB's record on domestic violence worse than NFL's, SB Nation, July 28, 2014
3. Ibid.
4. MLB players banned for drug violations, CBS News, retrieved March 11, 2015
5. It's time for MLB to follow the NFL's lead on new domestic violence punishments, Yahoo! Sports, September 10, 2014
6. 30 Shocking Domestic Violence Statistics that Remind Us It's An Epidemic, Huffington Post, October 23, 2014

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