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Patty
& Lane Judson
His grief becomes a gripping
message
KRIS SHERMAN; The News Tribune
March 19th, 2007
He speaks to military families. Women in
prison. Political groups. Anyone who will listen.
And when Lane Judson
presents his message that domestic violence devastates families and rips apart
communities, audiences often cry.
“It was extremely powerful, very, very
powerful,” Washington women’s prison superintendent Carol Porter said of the
presentation Lane and Patty Judson gave to about 125 inmates at the facility in
Purdy.
“Clearly the offenders and the staff that were present were
absolutely moved by their generosity of time and caring and emotion,” Porter
added.
The parents of Crystal Judson, who was killed by her Tacoma police
chief husband four years ago, are working to change laws and raise awareness of
domestic violence from Washington state to Washington, D.C.
Their
pressure on legislators to stiffen laws and fund programs is
well-documented.
What’s less known is Lane Judson’s appearance at forums
large and small to detail the personal consequences of an abuser’s
actions.
About a year ago, he got help with a multimedia presentation
about Crystal’s life – and death. He bought more than $3,000 worth of equipment
so he didn’t have to worry whether a small service club had an adequate
audiovisual system.
And he began speaking out. Now, he’s booked clear
into fall.
His hourlong talk uses music, slides and words to convey the
loss of a mother, a daughter, a sister. He speaks about the signs of domestic
abuse. And he asks listeners to watch for them.
“It brings awareness,” he
said. “I think we need that. There is so much domestic violence going on.
Getting the word out helps people understand. We’re bringing it out from
underneath the carpet.”
His speech sponsored by the Kitsap County
Domestic Violence Task Force a year ago was titled “I Love You to Death.” A
flier advertised his talk to the Grays Harbor College Human Services Club this
way: “Til Death Do Us Part.”
Nearly 360 people died in homcides by
domestic violence abusers in Washington between Jan. 1, 1997, and June 30, 2006,
according to the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence Fatality
Review. More than 30 of those were children.
“I really respect their
dedication to ensuring that this doesn’t happen to another family,” said Joshua
Johnston, who’s worked closely with the Judsons in their quest to get Congress’
attention to their cause. Johnston is a local aide to U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks,
D-Belfair.
After Lane Judson spoke to more than 100 people at the Whidbey
Island Naval Air Station last July, education facilitator Dave Thomason got
several calls from people “commenting on how powerful and eye-opening” his
speech and insights were.
Members of the Pierce County Mainstream
Republican Group were similarly affected when he talked to them last month,
former Gig Harbor Mayor Gretchen Wilbert said.
“The people sat speechless
during the presentation,” she recalled. “Ordinarily people get tired. Twenty
minutes is about all they can do from a speaker, but he held their attention the
entire time.”
Wilbert now wants him to talk to area school
administrators, teachers and counselors so they can pass on the lesson to their
students.
Judson, 71, hopes his message gets spread to people of every
age.
“It’s tough for me to go talk about it sometimes,” he said. “But I
do it. Domestic violence is not a private matter. If you see it or hear of it,
report it. And go make sure that the abuser gets help.”
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