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. For more information, go to: www.thatsnotcool.com/contest.
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
Source: US Department of Justice
