Fraternities, sororities team up to fight domestic violence in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - Twenty-four people a minute in America become victims of intimate partner domestic violence.

Ed Long is a longtime members of Phi Beta Sigma. The group, founded at Howard University, has made a statement about what happened to teacher and mother of two Aisha Fraser. Now, his frat brothers are getting together with others to implement change in others.

“As men, we need to be a forefront. We need to stand up and we need to be, like you said, your sons are going to be what you do and it makes it acceptable whatever it is that you do," says Long. "So, we need to make sure that we’re doing positive things to make sure those that are watching us can see here’s a direct, correct path.”

Betty Halliburton is a domestic violence survivor and a single mother. She says she reached out for help and that she’s here because she got it. Now, she wants to be that same kind of resource for others, especially in-light of what happened to Aisha Fraser, who was murdered. Her ex-husband and former judge, Lance Mason, has been charged in her death.

“It literally breaks my heart. Every time I see her face I try not to tear up because I know she’s a face that represents thousands, millions of other women and children who are exposed to domestic violence every single day, everywhere, from college campuses to affluent communities to low income communities," says Halliburton. "It doesn’t matter, it’s still unacceptable. We have to be advocates for change.”

To that end, lots of people are stepping up, forming groups in an effort to help.

The Devine-9 fraternities and local sororities are teaming up to stop what happened to Aisha Fraser from happening to others. They are working to educate, especially men, on how to respect women and not resort to domestic violence.

Long is a longtime member of the black-lettered Greek organization, Phi Beta Sigma.

“We need to be a forefront. We need to stand up and we need to be, like you said, your sons are going to be what you do and it makes it acceptable whatever it is that you do," Long said. “So, we need to make sure that we’re doing positive things to make sure those that are watching us can see here’s a direct, correct path.”

You can watch the whole conversation with host Harry Boomer and his guests Woodmere Village mayor and former broadcaster Ben Holbert, and Jacques Smith of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity on our Roku and Amazon Fire apps on demand and Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m. on CW 43 Focus.

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