February 4, 10

NEWS / NFL Players Association Joins Justice Department Effort to Raise Awareness Around Violence Against W

The Justice Department today announced that the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) has joined its year-long campaign to commemorate the 15 year anniversary of President Bill Clinton signing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) into law. The NFLPA has "Joined the List," a group of more than 100 celebrities including actors, musicians and athletes, who have lent their names to raise awareness with their fans, through Web and fan sites, and social networking profiles.

In addition to the NFLPA, 16 players – including New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Indianapolis Colts linebacker Gary Brackett, both of whom will play in the Super Bowl on Sunday – have lent their names to this initiative.

Today, the NFLPA also announced its partnership with the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), a grantee of the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), on their "Callout Card" contest as part of their That’s Not Cool teen initiative. The contest is designed to engage youth and invites teens to create "callout cards" that can be used to raise awareness of teen dating abuse. The contest’s grand prize winner will receive a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the NFL PLAYERS Gala, and will have a chance to walk the red carpet and meet with top NFL stars. Four runners-up will receive autographed NFL memorabilia, such as a jersey or helmet. Ten honorable mention winners will receive That’s Not Cool t-shirts and NFLPA hats. The contest, for teenagers ranging in age from 13 to 18, continues through March 15.

This initiative is especially focused on the use of new technology to harass and abuse. One in four teens in a relationship say they have been harassed or put down by their partner through their cell phone and texting, and more than 60 percent of teens have been pressured to engage in "sexting."

To commemorate the 15th anniversary of VAWA, the Department of Justice is working to raise public awareness on issues around violence against women, to build and renew coalitions among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and victim services communities, and to end stalking, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence for men, women and children across the country. A list of celebrities who have "Joined the List" is below:

Aaron Eckhar - Actor
Alexis Bledel - Actress
Amanda Beard - Olympic Gold-Medal Swimmer
Amber Heard - Actress
Amy Poehler - Actress, Comedienne
Ashley Judd - Actress
Barbara Walters - Journalist, Writer, Television Hostess
Brian White - Actor
Chamique Holdsclaw - Atlanta Dream, WNBA
Chrisette Michele - Singer-songwriter
Christina Ricci – Actress
Cristian De la Fuente – Actor
Cuba Gooding, Jr. - Actor
Curtis Granderson - New York Yankees, MLB
Cynthia Cooper - Former American basketball player, Former NCAA and WNBA Coach, WNBA Hall of Fame Inductee
Debbie Allen - Actress, Choreographer, Director, Producer
Diane Keaton - Actress, Director, Producer
Dominique Dawes - Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast
Ellen DeGeneres - Talk Show Hostess, Comedienne, Actress
Elisabeth Hasselbeck -Television Hostess
Emily Blunt - Actress
Emmy Rossum- Actress, Singer-songwriter
Erin Brockovich - Lawyer
Eva Mendes - Actress
Faith Hill - Singer, Actress
Fiona Apple - Singer-songwriter
Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon - Actress
Ginuwine - Singer
Idris Elba - Actor
Irene Bedard - Actress
Jaime Pressly - Actress
James Carville - Political Advisor
Jason Bateman - Actor
Jenna Fischer - Actress, Writer
Jennifer Love Hewitt - Actress, singer-songwriter
Joe Torre - Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Founder of the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation
Joey Fatone - Singer
John Lithgow - Actor
Joy Behar - Actress, Comedienne, Writer, Television Hostess
Judy Blume - Author
Kevin Spacey - Actor
Kristina Guerrero - Television Hostess
Kyra Sedgwick - Actress
Linda Fairstein - Author
Leeza Gibbons - Talk Show Host
Leslie Morgan Steiner - Author
Lisa Leslie - Los Angeles Sparks, WNBA, Olympic Gold Medal Basketball Player
LisaRaye McCoy-Misick - Actress
Marcus Johnson -Musician
Mariska Hargitay - Actress, Founder and President of the Joyful Heart Foundation
Martina McBride - Singer-Songwriter
Matt Dillon - Actor
MC Lyte - Emcee-Songwriter, Actress
Melissa Joan Hart - Actress
Meryl Streep - Actress
Michael Bolton - Singer
Michelle Pfeiffer - Actress
Michelle Williams - Actress
Mira Sorvino - Actress
Nastia Liukin - Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast
The NFL Players Association, including:

Adalius Thomas - New England Patriots, NFL
Brandon Moore - New York Jets, NFL
Darrell Green - Washington Redskins, NFL (Retired)
Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints, NFL
Erik Coleman - Atlanta Falcons, NFL
Gary Brackett - Indianapolis Colts, NFL
George Wilson - Buffalo Bills, NFL
Hank Fraley - Cleveland Browns, NFL
Jay Feely - New York Jets, NFL
Jerricho Cotchery - New York Jets, NFL
Kareem McKenzie - New York Giants, NFL
LaDainian Tomlinson - San Diego Chargers, NFL
Muhsin Muhammad - Carolina Panthers, NFL
Nate Kaeding - San Diego Chargers, NFL
Quintin Mikell - Philadelphia Eagles, NFL
Shaun O’Hara - New York Giants, NFL
Steve Hutchinson - Minnesota Vikings, NFL
Tony Dungy – Former Coach for the Indianapolis Colts, Author

The National Hockey League (NHL)
Nia Long - Actress, Director
Nicole Kidman - Actress
Omar Epps - Actor
Patti LaBelle - Singer, Songwriter, Actress
Paula Zahn - Newscaster
Phylicia Rashad - Actress
Rebecca Romijn - Actress, Model
Ricky Martin - Singer
Robin Givens - Actress
Rosie Perez - Actress, Dancer, Choreographer
S. Epatha Merkerson - Actress
Salma Hayek - Actress, Director, Producer
Sally Field - Actress, Producer, Director, Screenwriter
Sam Jones III - Actor
Scarlett Johansson - Actress, Singer-songwriter
Sherri Shepherd - Television Hostess, Actress, Comedienne
Steve Buscemi – Actor, Director
Stockard Channing - Actress
Susan Sarandon - Actress
Teresa Weatherspoon - Los Angeles Sparks, WNBA (Retired), Coach of Louisiana Tech Women’s Basketball
Tom Arnold - Actor
Tony Hawk – Skateboarder
U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team
Vivica A. Fox - Actress
Washington Mystics
Whoopi Goldberg - Television Hostess, Actress, Comedienne
Wynton Marsalis - Musician
Zoe Saldana – Actress

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/February/10-ag-122.html