Mother campaigns against date violence

Kathy Robertson never knew what date-violence was until her daughter became a victim. Now, she educates people about this lesser-known crime, and has been working to create legislation mandating that schools adopt a curriculum on this type of violence.

Abigail Robertson, former Metro student and Kathy's daughter, was murdered by her boyfriend in December of 2007. The crime was the conclusion to many months of stalking and harassment in response to Abigail ending the relationship.

In 2008, Robertson and her husband, Chuck, began Abby's Voice, an organization that is dedicated to the education of students and parents about date violence.

"We didn't take a lot of the signs as seriously as we should have," said Robertson. "Breaking up with these boys can be very dangerous."

The lack of awareness of this crime led Robertson to her most recent goal of trying to pass legislation in Colorado that would set a standard for date violence curriculum in all local school districts.

Unfortunately, Robertson ran into trouble while trying to get lawmakers moving on the subject of date violence.

"It is maddening that I can't get congressmen and legislators to talk to me," Robertson said.

Furthering Robertson's exasperation is an incident that occurred in November of 2008, when carbon monoxide poisoning killed a family in Aspen.

"In two months, there was a law passed in the state of Colorado that everybody had to have carbon monoxide monitors," Robertson said. "That was a simple law to pass."

Now, to Robertson, it seems that lawmakers are dragging their feet with her cause.

"[It] has not been as easy as I thought it was going to be," said Robertson. "I guess that girls being murdered by date violence [are] not as important to the legislators and congressmen in Colorado as monitors for carbon monoxide."

Robertson hopes her message will reach lawmakers within the year and that she will not be discouraged.

"If I have to start bitching about it, I guess that's what I'm going to do."

Robertson has also organized Abby's Voice Five Mile, a race to raise awareness on date violence. The run begins 8 a.m. Oct. 10 at Centaurus High School. Details are available at www.abbysvoice.com.