Alaska's delegation to Washington, Alaska's Senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, along with Representative Don Young participated in a rally at the Nation’s Capitol promoting Governor's Parnell’s "Choose Respect" initiative.

All three delegates spoke at the rally held to fight against the plague of domestic violence and sexual assault Alaska.

“We stand together with Governor Parnell as a nationwide network of Alaskan communities calling attention to the problem of sexual assaults and domestic violence,” said Senator Murkowski. “Alaskans know that our state has unparalleled beauty, but it also has rates of violence that are simply unacceptable. I call out to everyone and ask every Alaskan to do what they can to change our reality. Whether you’re leading your family and community by respectful examples or boldly stepping forward to tell your own story, the time has come for all Alaskans to Choose Respect today and every day.”

“As we work to strengthen laws against domestic violence and work to support more funding for shelters, education and prevention, I am pleased to take part in the Choose Respect rally to help shine a spotlight on this issue,” said Senator Begich. “As Alaskans stand together today, both in the state and in DC, our goal is to keep our families safe and to one day NOT have the distinction of having some of the highest rates of abuse in the country.”

“I am proud to once again join with Alaskans across the state in showing our support for the Choose Respect initiative,” said Representative Young. “The statistics speak for themselves – Alaska’s levels of domestic violence and sexual assault are intolerably high. Under no circumstances is domestic violence or sexual assault acceptable and it is my hope that by Choosing Respect, Alaskans will unite, stand together and put an end to the violence. I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to the Governor for his leadership on this and for bringing this important issue to the forefront.”

After the rally outside the capitol, Sen. Murkowski spoke of the initiative to the Senate and the viewing audience, where she said, in part:

“In a state like Alaska where we have an unparalleled beauty we also have an ugly side to our state that is manifested in statistics that we see in violence against women and particularly in violence against native women. Violence against native women has reached epidemic proportions. We are at a point where native women experience domestic violence and sexual assault two and a half times higher than other races. In the lower 48 women on reservations are nearly ten times more likely to be murdered. Systematic legal barriers and ineffectual law enforcement mechanisms result in women, children, and families living in fear.

“In Alaska, nearly 1 in 2 women have experienced partner violence, close to 1 in 3 have experienced sexual violence and overall nearly 6 in 10 Alaska women have been a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence. This is absolutely unacceptable and this is the reality we are living with as a state now. It is absolutely unacceptable. Alaska’s rate of forcible rape between 2003 and 2009 was 2.6 times higher than the national rate. Tragically we see about 9 percent of Alaskan mothers who reported physical abuse from their husband or their partner during pregnancy or in the 12 months prior to pregnancy. These are horrifying statistics … It is an issue we know rips at the heart of who we are.”