As a runningback with the B.C. Lions, Jeremiah Johnson runs through and over 300-pound linebackers trying to knock him out with extreme force. Every play contains a touch of controlled and ends up a train wreck if you will.
As a speaker with the LionsB次元官网网址� program, Johnson urges young people to break the silence on violence against women. He finds that topic much tougher than avoiding tackles on the football field.
He opened the 45-minute presentation Tuesday morning at Vernon Secondary School by quietly revealing how his wife, Shanel, was a victim of rape by one of her family members.
B次元官网网址淚 get emotional and about this because itB次元官网网址檚 near and dear to my heart,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淚 told my wife I would get nervous talking about this, but she said B次元官网网址業 think you should do it.B次元官网网址� Her well-being is at the top of my list. If I reach one person in this audience, IB次元官网网址檝e done my job. WeB次元官网网址檙e not here to demonize you guys but the stats show that males are the main cause of these heinous crimes against women.B次元官网网址�
Johnson, 31, is a marquee running back with the Canadian Football League team. The Oregon Ducks grad and Los Angeles product rang up a dozen touchdowns last season, including nine rushing scores on 913 yards. He has a young daughter, Jordan, and is more interested and troubled by the stats off the field.
Those stats show that one in three women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. The 15-24 age group lists the highest number of assaults.
Johnson and defensive back Matt Bucknor told students that violence against women can include dating wrongs, touching without consent, stalking, cyber bullying, catcalls, inappropriate or cruel jokes and texting. Any situation whereby the woman feels uncomfortable can be sexual harassment.
B次元官网网址淲e know you arenB次元官网网址檛 doing this, but maybe someone you know is,B次元官网网址� said Johnson, B次元官网网址淲e want to give you a platform where you can say, B次元官网网址業 learned something and what youB次元官网网址檙e doing is not right.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Johnson stressed how touching a female without consent is harassment.
B次元官网网址淐onsent is ongoing and it can be withdrawn at any time. Consent is not valid if the person is drunk, on drugs or unconscious. If that happens, the male should exit stage left. Being drunk is a not a defence.B次元官网网址�
Tyler Gammon of the Lions Community Relations department showed some public service announcements and TV clips on the issue. He showed a light-hearted message featuring stick figures offering a cup of tea as a analogy to asking a female for sex.
B次元官网网址淯nconscious people donB次元官网网址檛 want tea,B次元官网网址� said the announcer, bringing light laughter from the students.
Students saw Lions head coach Wally Buono break down and cry as he spoke of having to deal with a violent incident on his motherB次元官网网址檚 behalf.
B次元官网网址淲ho here has three women they love in their lives?B次元官网网址� asked Bucknor.
Most students raised their hands and Bucknor said he thinks about his mom, sister and two nieces when discussing the tough topic.
B次元官网网址淲e can do something about it,B次元官网网址� said Bucknor, a 32-year-old out of Hamilton. B次元官网网址淭here are 1,000 assaults every week. We have to stand with women, not against them.B次元官网网址�
The University of Windsor Lancers grad said it takes courage and smart decisions to help end the violence. He noted that 800,000 children in Canada witness violence against a woman.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a big number and they think itB次元官网网址檚 OK as they grow up.B次元官网网址�
Bucknor also noted there are 1,100 Indigenous women in B.C. either missing or murdered and that 83 per cent of women living with disabilities have been victims of violence.
He said a bystander is a person who sees or knows someone who is acting abusively and doesnB次元官网网址檛 do anything. He noted that attitudes that women canB次元官网网址檛 be CEOs or presidents, but belong in the kitchen, only fuel the violence.
Grade 10 student Lexie Pearson, wearing an Oregon hoodie much to JohnsonB次元官网网址檚 delight, joined the two Lions in a demonstration on what constitutes inappropriate touching.
The Lions urged students who know a male behaving in ways demeaning women to approach them and refer them to professionals for counselling.
Bucknor said the notion that B次元官网网址淥h, she deserved it because she was wearing a certain outfitB次元官网网址� is way off base. He noted that just because a bank has zillions of dollars doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean it deserves to get robbed.
Be More Than A Bystander is one of five programs the Lions run as they seek to touch the lives of B.C. communities in a positive way. The Lions have won the Grey Cup six times, the last coming in 2011.
newstips@vernonmorningstar.com
Like us on and follow us on .
