Ed Flynn, candidate for Boston City Council District 2, announced his intention to make advocacy for victims of domestic violence a priority on the City Council. Flynn, a probation officer and former state public-safety official, held a press conference in the South End on Monday where he talked about the importance of standing up for victims of domestic violence. If elected, Flynn will work with the City Council Committee on Healthy Women, Families, and Communities, and the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice to specifically address these issues.
Flynn said, “Domestic violence devastates the lives of thousands of Bostonians every year. As a probation officer, I’ve seen its heart-wrenching impact on so many residents, and we must do more to raise awareness, increase reporting opportunities for victims, and reduce incidences of domestic violence. As city councilor, I will work collaboratively with colleagues, law enforcement, public health organizations, and so many of the incredible non-profits in Boston to give every person a safe and healthy place to live. It is imperative that we educate folks from every neighborhood, provide a comforting and safe atmosphere for victims, and offer an outlet to those who may be hesitant to speak out.”
Flynn cited Data compiled by Jane Doe, Inc., the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the 2010 National Intimate Partner Survey.
Nearly one in three women and one in five men in Massachusetts have experienced rape, physical violence and/ or stalking by an intimate partner in their lives.
11 percemt of high school students and 6 percent of middle school students reported being hurt by a date sometime in their life.
Between 2003 and 2012, Jane Doe, Inc identified 266 victims of domestic violence related homicides and an additional 74 domestic violence homicide perpetrator deaths in Massachusetts.
In addition, Jane Doe Inc. noted that these statistics may not account for immigrants, members of the LGBTQ community, or and those who may be hesitant to contact law enforcement. Flynn conveyed that he would look to build on the work of his mother, Kathy Flynn, who sought to support domestic violence victims as First Lady of Boston.
Ed Flynn is a lifelong resident of District 2, where he has been deeply involved as a youth sports coach, veterans’ advocate, and community activist. In addition to being an active Boston Public Schools parent at the Josiah Quincy School in Chinatown, Ed is a member of the Cityside Neighborhood Association, South Boston Citizens’ Association, Ward 7 Democratic Committee, and VFW Fitzgerald Post.
Ed served on active duty in the Persian Gulf on two deployments and overseas in the Navy Reserves, helping to coordinate disaster relief in Haiti. Ed and his wife, Kristen, are raising their children, Caroline and Stephen, in South Boston