First Anniversary Celebration, Violence UnSilenced* UPDATED
One year ago today, Violence UnSilenced launched.
I find myself at a loss for words, so I’ll just let this video do the talking.
Thank you all, so very, very much.
UPDATE: I missed somebody! I feel so terrible. Please read this.
If you would like to join these survivors, email your post to maggie [at] violenceunsilenced [dot] com. If you would like to support these survivors, please read and comment on the stories posted twice weekly here. If you would like to offer further moral support to Violence UnSilenced, visit the pledge page to add a badge to your site. To learn more about Violence UnSilenced, read the about page. Thank you.
159 Responses to “First Anniversary Celebration, Violence UnSilenced* UPDATED”
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OHMYGOD IT’S AWESOME!!!!!!
THANK YOU, MAGGIE!!!!!!!
THANK YOU…..for giving us place to go when we’re ready to share our stories.
THANK YOU….for introducing me to so many incredibly brave and amazing women.
THANK YOU…..
in tears.
thank you for letting me speak out and thanks to all those that went before me to give me the courage to do so.
love you all.
thank you and congratulations on a year of making a difference.
I’ve said it privately, but ill say it here too…you became the change you wanted to see in the world. I think that makes you the bravest person of all.
Happy anniversary, and thank you.
[...] PLEASE CLICK HERE AND CELEBRATE WITH ME AND MANY OTHERS. [...]
Thank you for inspiring us all.
Thank you! And Happy Anniversary.
Wiping tears and just saying, “THAT IS AWESOME!” over and over and over …
god. it brought me to tears. we’re all so beautiful … thank you maggie. thank you.
Happy Anniversary, VU. Thanks, Maggie. Loves you, girl.
Wow! That was one of the most powerful vids I have ever seen. Tears for all those who spoke, both heartbreaking and awe inspiring. Keep up the good work and keep speaking out.
Happy Anniversary.
Oh Maggie, thank you, you gorgeous thing you.
This is so beautiful, and powerful. Thank you, Maggie, for all that you do. Thank you survivors, for speaking up. I love all of you so much, and I’m proud of you all!
bests wishes on one year of touching so many lives
Oh Maggie I am sitting here with tears flowing down my face speechless but wanting to call you or some of the survivors who spoke out to just let you and them know the level of pride and respect and joy I feel to know they are here with us and not lost either by physical removal or by being silenced. Violence Unsilenced is such a much needed place for us to find the strength to break out of the abuse. Thank you beautiful lady words are not enough I want to give you and all the other survivors such a big hug. <3 to all of you and me I AM A SURVIVOR.
well dammit it that’s not inspiring.
happy anniversary.
(watching my two year old dance along as we watched that video was the greatest gift i’ve been given yet. and the day is young.)
Maggie you will always be my hero.
(pee ess, that little grin around the one-minute mark just made my whole damn day)
Happy Blogiversary to this wonderful place that will always hold a special place in my heart.
GAH – “best”
WOW! That was amazing!! Thanks for giving all of us a place to speak out and for letting us see parts of ourselves in other people’s stories and be able to say, “OMG, that was abuse. I’m not crazy and it’s not my fault.” That helps more than you know. Or maybe you do know since you had the wisdom and compassion to create such an awesome site!!
Congrats, Lady!!! You’ve done an amazing job with this!!
I really didn’t think I could be any prouder of you and what you’ve done here sis. But I’m learning that you have the ability to amaze me more all the time.
That? Is what I call FNAstonishing.
Love you girl.
I love you Maggie.
Thank you SO much, Maggie. Well done.
Wow, Maggie. You are Everything Inspirational.
Thanks for being YOU in this world.
This is so wonderful! Happy anniversary and thank you for providing a space for our voices!
Beautiful, Maggie! Thank you!!!!
Wow…. tears welling up at all those beautiful faces and knowing that your site has given them a space to not be afraid.
Great job with the video, Maggie!
Thank YOU, Maggie.
Tears of freedom from silence fall freely while viewing this.
Words, are not enough.
Of all the blogs I have ever read, THIS blog is by far the most important.
Thank you for this space.
And thank you for allowing Jumby to speak out.
Big, huge, sloppy tears.
the first thing i thought is ‘wow we have faces’. beautiful, strong, amazing faces. thank you for making us REAL. i heart you maggie!
Chills. Tears. Pride.
Congratulations to all of you!
And on your tremendous effort, dear Maggie!!
Thank you so much for this site Maggie. The courage is coming. Slowly, but it’s coming. I will get to the point where I can write. This is my promise to myself and to my daughters.
Fantastic video.
Congratulations on your anniversary.
Congratulations to everyone who found the courage to speak out.
Keep up the great work!
Amazing. Thanks to all who have chosen to participate. SO BRAVE.
Maggie-
I’m so proud of you for so many reasons. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and for so many others. I’m so glad I have had the privilege to be an irl friend.
Thanks for all you do!
[...] Happy anniversary to each and every one of us, each part that making us all whole again. [...]
I cried a tear for each one of those people in the video. Thank you for giving us a voice!
Thank YOU Maggie.
Maggie, this is AWESOME!!!!!
Thank you for being here to provide us all with a place where we can be heard. The comments I received when I spoke out healed a place in my heart that had raw and hurting for a very long time. You gave me a voice and the people who responded gave me the support and validation that my family refused (and still refuses) to give.
You stepped in the gap and did for me what my family should have, but did not. And that, dear Maggie, is worth more to me than I could ever possibly express.
Thank you.
You are gorgeous, Bossy adores you, that video rocked the house, the survivors are beautiful, pass the kleenex (for happy and sad tears.)
this video gave me chills. the cause is great. you, are amazing.
That video, and this website, are about a thousand different kinds of awesome. And so are you, Maggie. And so are the survivors.
Congratulations. Thank yous. And hugs.
Thank you!
That was the best kind of cry I’ve had in a long time.
Thank you, Maggie.
Thank you, survivors.
Wow – so powerful and amazing…Happy Anniversary Maggie and VU. What you are doing is awesome.
Thank you.
Maggie, that rocked. AWESOME video. Congrats on 1 year and on doing so much good for so many people.
[...] Click here to celebrate with Maggie and all the survivors who have finally found their voices. [...]
Total goosebumps.
Wonderful.
THANK YOU, maggie, for doing this!
Thank you to all the survivors who spoke.
Chills. Tears. So proud of you and all those who were brave enough to speak out.
You are changing the world with this site, Maggie. One person at a time.
xoxo
Arianne
Maggie you’re awesome and this website is one of the many, many, many reasons I adore you.
I am so proud of everyone who has and will speak out.
Beautiful.
Bless us all, every one.
What a beautiful and safe place. Congrats on one year, you are an amazing woman Maggie.
Bravo!
Brilliant! Heart wrenching and soul warming all at one time.
I’ve only visited this site a couple of times and I’ve never experienced anything like this, but I want to thank you. Amazing!
Maggie, as always you inspire me. Thank you. That’s all I can say. Just, thank you.
I have no words. Just… thank you, Maggie. For everything.
happy birthday to VU. maggie, your precious baby is growing up and changing lives.
it’s truly an honor to be able to support in such a tiny, insignificant way, you and these amazing survivors past, present and future.
You just gave me chills. Thank you for this place.
Happy birthday. I can not express how much of a good thing this site is..what you are doing is amazing. thank you.
Thank you for giving women, men & children a voice! You have done a phenomenal job.
It’s beautiful. thank you so much Maggie! *hugs*
Hey great job there Maggie… congratulations to you and all those WHO SPOKE OUT!!!
hope!
Aw gee, Maggie!
This is awesome. Congrats to you. You are so beautiful. Every person behind the voices you’ve raised up here are so beautiful.
Steph
You are a beautiful beautiful soul, Maggie. Thank you for continuing to do this. It is so important, and some days it must be very difficult for your heart to bear.
Bless you.
AMAZING!! Thank you!! So much more to say but the tears are just flowing and I can’t think!!
this was incredibly powerful. well-done, Maggie. well-done, everybody. stand tall.
Oh Maggie. This is so amazing, empowering, inspiring… all starting with your smiling face. I’m so proud of you, and everyone who had the courage to speak out.
Bravo.
Thank you for bringing light to so many people’s pain and victory over it.
Powerful video, ladies.
Congratulations on one year of speaking out! Keep it up.
Kudos to all the men and women who stood up and said ‘I will not be silent!’
I added your button to my blog gladly!
I just clicked over from Heather of the EO’s site. I had never heard of this website before…where have I been?! Thank you for the video, and I will be spending hours reading and catching up on what I have been missing. What a great forum to support each other.
Tears, and more tears. But good tears.
Thank you for all your work Maggie – thank you to all those who have spoken out.
Happy Birthday Violence Unsilenced!!!
it took you to give us a place to speak out, maggie.
thank you.
Thank you for this tribute to all of the survivors! My daughter, nic@mybottlesup.com called this morning so that we could celebrate your post together. We have been healing over the years along with Nicole and today was very, very special, thanks to you, Maggie. May all of the survivors voices out there continue to scream!
There’re tears running down my face and my daughter’s asking me why I’m so sad and through cough-sputters, I’m saying, “because I’m so happy.” What Shannon said is perfect, the thanks people have said is perfect, but there’s still something missing.
I’m not a religious person, but I have some spirituality. The work that VU’s done, passively – just by putting posts on the Internet and allowing others access to them – has created deposits in everyone involved’s karmatic bank accounts, because they’ve removed stigma; it’s lowered risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke via the release of stress (and therefore cortisol levels and a whole bunch of other chemistry stuff); depression may have lifted in some, as well as anxiety, and the telling may have been the catalyst in some healing (as it was for me) and might’ve made the suicidal Bloody Mary in the bathroom mirror virtually disappear; people have taken pride in their words, even if the tapping out of them was the most painful thing they’ve dealt with, secondary to the abuse.
More than a changemaker, you’re the very first block of lego on the carpet of Abuses’ playroom as It creeps across in the dark of the night – you may not maim completely, but you take a little chunk out of Abuse’s foot. Everyone who Unsilences themself becomes another piece. Before you know it, Abuse won’t have feet, period.
Eyes filled with tears. Very powerful video… sometimes the simplest ways of sharing a message are the most effective.
Thank you Maggie for this site. You are amazing. Love you tons.
Happy 1st anniversary.
M~ I have told you before but you along restore my faith in humanity. That video has me smiling and bawling at the same time. I really would love to partner with you with VU. Maybe we can have you guest blog and get my readers to know more about this amazing website possibly we could put that incredible video on the post. I know for a fact that my readers need this…need to be able to speak out…need help. I may not be as famous as you and your blogs—but I am a woman and this speaks volumes to me. I have about 7OO+ hits a day and these are daughters, mothers, friends, sisters etc–this is just incredble what you have done. If you do not have time to guest post as I know you have a million things on your plate including changing your life for the better…but at least maybe we could post this video? I mean, it is just incredible. Bravo.
Brilliant. Congratulations to all who are brave enough to speak out and share. The video gave me chills and tears and courage. Happy anniversary. And thank you.
Happy Birthday VU!!
To all of those amazing women and men who spoke out, thank you for sharing your stories.
Wow I didn’t realize it had only been that long. I love seeing the stories of the strong people who have survived. It makes me sad that horrific things still happen on a regular basis, but gives me hope that it can be changed.
Thank you.
Happy Anniversary! Wonderful, Wonderful. I love your website, I love being able to support these absolutely amazing, brave people who speak out here and inspire others. Thank you Maggie, for making this happen. You rock.
Bravo to all of you who have posted here, to Maggie Dammit, and to those who are finding their way to a safer place.
You? Amaze me. Happy Anniversary on your amazing venture.
Maggie.
Well done.
Well said.
Be proud.
Be you.
I’ve been thinking about this video all day – and it really just makes me happy. I cried, I did. But the survivors, and you, are incredible gifts to God knows how many people! It’s the karma someone else commented on…the awareness of abuse that maybe someday will help me help a friend or [god forbid] myself. I’m aware. I’m present. And in awe of you and the 101 (for now) men and women who spoke out.
p.s. – your ‘rockin out’ in the video intro, when your cards are done? Undeniably adorable.
Just a big huge smile on my face Maggie. I am so proud of you. I am proud of all of the people who have spoken out, and are scheduled to do so as well. but mostly, I am just full-up proud of you.
That video was amazing.
I am so impressed with of all these brave strong woman and so touched by all of the stories shared here.
Maggie, I am in awe.
I am so proud of all of you who have helped Maggie make this site such a huge success. It is truly a labor of love for her and to see it do so much for so many make us all very happy.
Good job sweetie.
D
One year, you’ve done so much in one year. This body of work is important and vital. Thank you so very much for it, Maggie, and all of the unsilenced, for your words and the space you insist on making for them.
Happy anniversary, I am so proud to know you and of all those who’ve shared your space here. *much love and hugs*
Maggie – you are a God send for all of us out here. Thankyou so much! You are an incredible, and inspiring woman – and awful purty to boot! <3
Congratulations!!
Congratulations and Thanks to Maggie for creating this place. You are a wonder!
Congratulations and Thanks to all those who’ve shared. Your courage and strength are amazing!
You all ROCK!
Happy anniversary. You are wonderful. <3
Congrats Maggie! You did an awesome job!
Amazing. Simply amazing.
You’re amazing. What an idea you had. Changing the world – one speak-out at a time.
Thank you again Maggie. This is an awesome thing that you started. It gave me new hope and a place where I could say what I needed to. I am sorry that i didn’t get my picture in. Life is really crazy right now. But again thank you!!! You and VU totally rock!!
Absolutely beautiful – I am so proud of each and every one of you!
I love this site – so vital! Congratulations on this first anniversary. So much has happened in a year! So many stories told! So many people given a voice!
I finally got the Violence UnSilenced button working on my site – yay!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, VU!
CONGRATULATIONS to Maggie and to every single person who has spoken out. WE’RE PROUD OF YOU AND WE’RE SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE.
I just can’t even help the all caps, seriously.
[...] is a very special anniversary. It’s for Violence Unsilenced. Maggie has done a wonderful [...]
Tears!
Beautiful. Beautiful.
I’ve waited all day to see this. No way to see it at work when it first happened. It’s amazing, Maggie! Thank you, and thank you everyone for speaking out and supporting those who do. xoxoxoxo!
Thanks Maggie. I should have used a bigger pen!
Amazing video. Happy Birthday, V.U.
And thanks for the tears.
I can’t begin to tell you how glad I am to have you in my life.
I love you!
XO
Great video. Happy Birthday Violence Unsilenced!
Maybe I’ll get up the courage to speak out this year!
Thank you for all you have done this year. I loved seeing the faces of my fellow outspoken survivor sisters and brothers.
To all of you who are still wondering if you should speak: I have to tell you that the path of freedom that starts with the first step of standing up and telling about the abuse is worth it. Don’t suffer in silence.
Love to you Maggie, and all of you. ~M.E.
crying….crying…crying…and feeling stronger every day because of YOU Maggie. Because of ALL of us who have spoken out, who have left a trail for others to walk upon.
Maggie and to all of us…we deserve a standing O…
clapping….clapping…clapping…
Maggie, you are amazing. Giving this safe space to women, and to men as well, who need it, is a bold and brave thing. Ever may you reign!
BTW, I’ve “taken the pledge”; added a badge to my (seldom-visited!) blog: http://gkkk04.wordpress.com/ Thanks for the opportunity.
No, thank YOU all.
The video, like you was awesomeness itself.
Thank you.
What a wonderful video. My husband and I just watched it together. What a great space you provide….I have been blessed not to need it, but I know plenty of people who do.
[...] Anniversary post [...]
Choked up.
You and ALL of the 101 survivors (and hundreds more to come) should be really proud.
Fabulous video – and congratulations on creating something so emotionally and practically beneficial. Way to go.
To all those who speak out here, you are brave and amazing.
To those who support, rock the casba.
I love the video. I think it’s so great that you’ve created a place where those who need it can speak out. And then hopefully fewer will end up needing a place to speak out. Happy Anniversary!
[...] of which, a big happy anniversary to Violence Unsilenced. Maggie celebrates a year today, as do the many people that have broken the silence. She is doing [...]
Wow how amazing, Maggie… everyone. This made me cry… everyone here is so strong. Thank you for letting me, and all of us speak out!
I LOVE YOU LADY AND ALL YOU DO HERE.
Sorry for the caps, but I needed to yell that one at you.
SO PROUD.
Thank you. And congrats on one year of speaking out – to all of you survivors.
Amazing. Congratulations on one year, and here’s to many more.
I took the pledge.
Maggie, it’s incredible. Everything about this place is.
Thank you for giving me my voice. I can never repay you for that opportunity.
Oh dude. You inspire me.
These voices inspire me.
The strength jumping out of this computer screen inspires me.
Simply awesome.
Maggie,
Thank you for giving me a voice. You’re my hero. <3
this had me crying – but through a big smile in happiness for those who have and will speak out. what an amazing blessing this “project” is. i hope that it only flourishes.
Congratulations! Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do! I watched this and bawled… I watched it again and bawled! Thank you to those who did SPEAK OUT and SPEAK OUT for those who can’t!
Wow! I am so very honored and proud to know you.
Wow, so powerful… I am recovering and do not attend meeting as I should. I know twhat hey say !/2 measurses. Gosh darn ( dammit) I want to think I can handle this.
I work at a dv center in Florida. This is an amazing video! Thank you to you and all the survivors for speaking out and for speaking out for those who are not able to!!
Thank God for websites that support survivors and there families like this one.
Lisa, I am proud of you for speaking out for Tracy & Deja. You can be their voice now that they are in heaven. I am proud ot call you not only my sister-in-law, but my sister.
God Bless Tracy, Deja, and all of the victims of violence.
This moved me to tears. Such a powerful testimony of the impact of one person’s vision and a community’s support. God bless all of us as we change the world. I pray for the day when this site runs out of speakers because peace prevails.
Maggie, thank you for this ministry.
Gorgeous.
Outstanding…I admire your willingness to facilitate this and give away so much of your time.
You did this . . . which means, you can do anything. Believe it.
Clearly . . .
We do.
i am in awe. what a tangible example of a portion of the lives that have been touched by your passion, Maggie. So proud of you, and of everyone who has written, submitted, commented, and supported!
Absolutely awe inspiring. I just found you and am letting someone very special to me know about you. She has recently spoken out somewhat in her own way, but I can only imagine and pray that having this wonderful group supporting her will help her even more.
Whoohoo! What a celebration of breaking free from the silence! You have created such an amazing place here at Violence Unsilenced. Thank you for all that you do.
Amy (@Abeeliever)
This was amazing Maggie. So beautiful and inspiring. Thank you!
Happy Anniversary, VU!
Maggie, you are truly amazing. I am so grateful and honored to call you FRIEND.
Love you lady,
Shauna
[...] I’ve got a decent Macbook with some great software that came pre-installed, but before I made last week’s anniversary video I’d never so much as blown the dust off it. It took me all day (and many frantic emails to [...]
I couldn’t stop crying when I viewed the video. I have no words to say other than “thank you”. I hope to show this video to my daughter one day to tell her how we both not only survived, but spoke out together!
Brought me to tears. God bless every single person who spoke out.
Happy Birthday, VU, and hugs to your momma.
wow! beautiful!! thank you to all of them…and thank you to YOU!
So awesome. Congrats to all the survivors, and to this site for reaching this anniversary!
This was such an amazing video. My heart is in my throat and I’m covered in goose bumps.
Thank you for providing a place where all these women (and men) can speak out. I saw so many familiar faces that have already spoken out. You helped them do that. You have made a real difference. You have broken the silence.
You have done an amazing thing by giving all of these people a voice. Thank you.
Crying. Happy and sad. Happy to have found this place. Sad that I cannot seem to summon the courage to give you my story. There are a few people in my life who know the story but I’m afraid that telling it will hurt people to know this about me.
Thank you to each and everyone of you. The more of us who speak out, tell the truth and claim our space, the better life will be for everyone. Everyone deserves to live in a safe, supportive environment. Thank you Maggie for making this space/environment of dignity and safety available.