PARIS: EVERY MINUTE IN AMERICA 20 PEOPLE EXPERIENCE INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE.

EVERY 68 SECONDS, BASICALLY EVERY MINUTE, SOMEONE IS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

BY THE TIME I HAVE FINISHED THIS MONOLOGUE ALL OF THAT WILL HAVE HAPPENED TWICE.

IT IS NOT JUST ALARMING, IT IS A SYSTEM RUNNING RIGHT ON TIME.

WE GET?

TECHNOLOGY.

THE SAME PHONE YOU USE TO BINGE WATCH YOUR FAVORITE SERIES OR SCROLL THROUGH TIKTOK IS BEING USED TO STOCK, GROOM AND CONTROL VICTIMS FROM THE SCREEN.

TACK IS BOTH -- TECH IS THE VILLAIN AND THE VIGILANTE.

PEOPLE ARE USING TECH TO FIGHT BACK.

IF THERE IS ONE THING BLACK FOLKS KNOW HOW TO DO COMMIT TO SHOW YOU THE RECEIPTS.

IF TECH IS THE NEW BATTLEFIELD, THE WAR STARTED LONG BEFORE WI-FI.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TRAFFICKING MADE IT INTO THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION NOT BECAUSE BLACK WOMEN SPOKE UP, BECAUSE WHITE WOMEN WERE THE ONES WERE SEEN IN THE LIFETIME MOVIE OR ON A NANCY GRACE SPECIAL.

BLACK WOMEN WERE TOLD KEEP THE FAMILY TOGETHER.

DON’T AIR DIRTY LAUNDRY.

YOU BETTER PRAY ON IT.

WHEN THEY DID SPEAK UP THEY WERE LABELED AS ANGRY AND UNSTABLE OR JUST STRAIGHT UP IGNORED.

IN THE DIGITAL AGE, SILENCE IS BREAKING LOUDLY.

BLACK WOMEN ARE JUST SPEAKING UP.

THEY ARE GOING LIVE, BUILDING PLATFORMS, CODING APPS AND LAUNCHING CAMPAIGNS AND CREATING ENTIRE ECOSYSTEMS OF CARE ONLINE.

THE SHIFT DIDN’T JUST HELP WOMEN.

IT IS HELPING EVERYONE BECAUSE WHEN YOU BUILD A SYSTEM THAT ONLY SEES ABUSE THROUGH ONE NARROW LENS, WHITE, FEMALE, FRAGILE, YOU MISS BLACK BOYS TRAFFICKED THROUGH GAMING APPS, QUEER MEN MANIPULATED INNING ERECTED -- THROUGH APPS.

BLACK COMMUNITIES ARE ENGINEERING THE RESISTANCE.

LAWS LIKE THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, THE TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT AND THE TAKE IT DOWN ACT ARE PLAYING CATCH-UP TRYING TO FIX A SYSTEM THAT WAS NEVER BUILT FOR US IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BLACK LEAD LIBERATION GROUPS HAVE DONE THE WORK IN REAL TIME.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS TALKING ABOUT CUTTING FUNDING FOR VICTIMS.

LET’S BE CLEAR, THIS ISN’T JUST ABOUT CRIME.

IT IS ABOUT POWER BECAUSE BLACK DEITIES HAVE BEEN LIVING THIS FOR CENTURIES.

FROM SLAVERY TO JIM ROAD TO MASS INCARCERATION, THE CONTROL OF BLACK BODIES HAS ALWAYS BEEN POLICY, NOT ACCIDENT.

WE TALKED SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND TRAFFICKING, WE ARE JUST TALKING ABOUT HARM, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HISTORY AND SYSTEMS.

STORIES THAT WERE NEVER TOLD UNTIL NOW.

WE KNOW THE PROBLEM.

LET’S GET TO THE ROOT OF IT.

I’M PARIS ALSTON AND THIS IS RIGID -- THIS IS ROOTED.

WE ARE UNPACKING HOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARE EVOLVING.

JOINING US IS A SURVIVOR AND ADVOCATE BEHIND SHAKIRA’S STORY, THE FOUNDER OF THE TRIGGERED PROJECT, AND A FRONT-LINE EXPERT IN TRAFFICKING PREVENTION AND SURVIVOR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE WORD SURVIVOR BECAUSE EACH OF YOU ARE SURVIVORS.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE LANGUAGE E -- WE USE WHETHER IT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT OR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, HOW DOES WE SHAPE WHO WE SEE AS SURVIVORS?

>>?

>> WE ARE ALL SURVIVING SOMETHING, NAVIGATING THROUGH SOMETHING WE EXPERIENCED.

WHEN IT COMES TO DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE SURVIVORS, I THINK THE TERM, AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUE, HAS BEEN WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK AND BROWN WOMEN IN PARTICULAR I THINK THERE IS A DISPARITY BETWEEN HOW WE ARE IDENTIFIED AND OUR WHITE COUNTERPARTS ARE IDENTIFIED ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO CARE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THERE IS A DIVIDE THAT HAPPENS.

PARIS: THAT IS A GREAT SEGUE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WORK WITH THIS POPULATION.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

>> IT IS COMPLICATED.

IF A TEAM IS EXPERIENCING DATING VIOLENCE -- IF A TEENAGER IS EXPERIENCING DATING VIOLENCE PEOPLE SAY IT DOESN’T MATTER BECAUSE YOU WILL GROW OUT OF IT.

THEY DON’T HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT AN ADULT WILL HAVE.

PARIS: HOW DOES THIS LOOK DIFFERENT FOR MEN WHO OFTEN, WE DON’T SEE AS SURVIVORS?

>> THE WORD SURVIVOR IS SOMETHING I HAVE HAD TO REDEFINE MYSELF.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

OR I’M SURVIVING BUT I’M NOT SURVIVING BUT THRIVING.

AS WE LOOK AT REDEFINING MANHOOD, WHICH IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION, WE HAVE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REDEFINE WHAT SURVIVOR MEANS.

LOTS OF PEOPLE DON’T LIKE TO USE THE WORD BUT ESPECIALLY MEN.

HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME WITH EVEN ADMITTING FIRST THAT SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED, BECAUSE SOCIETY HAS REALLY STARTED TO SHAPE EVEN TECHNOLOGY WISE, THE QUESTION OF WHAT DOES MANHOOD LOOK LIKE?

THAT IS WHERE THINGS GET REALLY TRICKY.

PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THEY SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

EVEN THE OTHER INFLUENCERS, THEY ARE SPREADING TOXIC MASCULINITY THAT IS HAPPENING AND ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED LATELY, THIS IS WHY WE ALL HAVE TO DO WORK, A LOT OF MEN, WHEN WE ARE TALKING, WHAT IS SHOWING IS THE WORK WE HAVEN’T DONE YET.

>> WE ARE SEEING THAT SO PREVALENTLY IN THE MANOSPHERE.

EVEN WHEN OLDER MEN ARE PREYING ON YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG BOYS IN PARTICULAR BY WAY OF THE INTERNET.

SHAKIRA: WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN TEENAGE DATING VIOLENCE.

TEENAGERS AGAINST TEENAGERS, SEXUAL ABUSE ON TEENS AGAINST TEENS OR CHILD AGAINST CHILD.

WHEN IT COMES TO OLDER MEN AND BLACK AND BROWN BOYS ESPECIALLY IN THE INNER-CITY, WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN THOSE CASES WHERE THEY ARE NOT BELIEVED BECAUSE THEY AREN’T IDENTIFYING AS OF THE -- AS A VICTIM, OR THAT IS NOT MY IDENTITY.

THEY DISASSOCIATE.

WHEN IT COMES TO RESOURCES AND SERVICES THERE IS A PLETHORA FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

WHEN IT COMES TO MEN, WE HAVE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS IN TERMS OF HOW WE SUPPORT PEOPLE.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MANHOOD AND WHAT DOES TOXIC MASCULINITY LOOKS LIKE, IT VARIES FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

KEITH: ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT IS, WHICH IS HARDER FOR US TO TALK ABOUT, THE WOMEN PERPETRATORS AT TIMES.

WOMEN PERPETRATORS TO OTHER WOMEN BUT ALSO TO BOYS BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES, MEN DON’T REALIZE THEY HAVE BEEN ABUSED.

THEY HAVE NO IDEA THIS EXPERIENCE THEY HAD WITH AN OLDER WOMAN WAS ABUSE.

PARIS: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE INDICATORS?

IF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THEY WERE ABUSED?

KEITH: THE OLDER BABYSITTER, RIGHT?

HAVING A SEXUAL EXPERIENCE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS OLDER IS NOT OK.

YOU WILL GET PATTED ON THE BACK BECAUSE OF THAT.

THAT IS MORE ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN, BUT I THINK SOMETIMES IT IS THE BASIC INTERACTION.

I TALK ABOUT IT, SAYING WHEN I WAS IN CHURCH, I WAS A WEST INDIAN BOY TRYING TO GET SOME SWEET BREAD BUT I HAD TO GO THROUGH DIFFERENT WOMEN WOULD PUT MY HEAD IN THERE BREASTS, SAY YOU ARE SO SWEET AND ALL OF THAT AND THAT WAS NEVER TALKED ABOUT.

THE OTHER MEN IN THE CHURCH WOULD LAUGH.

PARIS: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER WAYS THAT TECHNOLOGY IS ENABLING SOME OF THIS BEHAVIOR OR ALLOWING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE VICTIMS TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE EXPERIENCING?

KENI: THE COMMENTS SECTION.

PARIS: IT ALWAYS COMES DOWN TO THE COMMENT SECTION.

KENI: A COMMENT THREAD, OR IT COULD BE AN INNOCENT POST AND IT WILL EITHER BE DEMOLISHED OR UPHELD AS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, BUT IT IS NOT JUST WHAT IT IS.

ON THE FLIPSIDE, THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE, WHAT IS THE REALITY ASIDE FROM THE SOCIAL MEDIA ASPECT?

BEFORE, IT WAS JUST, IF A GIRL SENDS PICTURES TO A DUDE, THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN IS THEY GET SENT AROUND, POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHE IS THE SCANDAL OF THE WEEK.

NOW IT IS LIKE, ANYTHING.

AND I MEAN, ANYTHING CAN BE FLIPPED.

PARIS: YOU ALSO HAVE THE ISSUE OF THE DEEPFAKES.

AND I KNOW I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE USING AI TO DEEPFAKE PORN NOW.

YOU CAN PUT ANYONE’S FACE ON A SEXUAL ACT.

KENI: THIS IS WHY I’M NOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

ANYTHING YOU DO ON SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE FLIPPED INTO SOMETHING ELSE AND THE CONTENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE POSTED ON OTHER PLATFORMS THAT YOU ARE NOT MAKING MONEY OFF OF, BUT THAT IS YOUR FACE.

PARIS: HOW IS TECHNOLOGY, OR HOW HAS THAT ENABLED EACH OF YOU TO SHARE WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED?

KENI: A LOT OF MEN DEAL WITH FINANCIAL ABUSE BECAUSE THEY THINK BECAUSE I’M A MAN, I HAVE TO UPHOLD THIS.

I DON’T AGREE.

THAT IS A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPEN.

AND ALSO, JUST GAINING PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT IS AN AMAZING THING SOCIAL MEDIA GIVES PEOPLE.

IT’S WHAT THEY DO WITH THAT.

PARIS: AND KEITH, YOU USED TECHNOLOGY BOTH IN VIRTUAL REALITY AND IN THE INTERSPACE TO TELL YOUR STORY -- THE THEATER SPACE TO TELL YOUR STORY AND BRING SURVIVORS INTO THE CONVERSATION.

KEITH: CREATING TRIGGERED LIFE, TELLING MY STORY, -- PARIS: SHOUT OUT TO JOHN.

KEITH: BEING ABLE TO TELL MY STORY WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF HELPING OTHER PEOPLE, BUT GETTING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS FOR BLACK BOYS AND BLACK MEN WHEN WE ARE ACTIVATED?

WHAT HAPPENS?

HOW CAN WE SEE THE HUMIDITY IN US.

PARIS: YOU TALKED IN YOUR BOOK, DO HAVE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY YOUR EXPERIENCE.

SHAQUERA: WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHAT IS DEPICTED FROM WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO CONVEY, WHETHER WE ARE SURVIVORS TELLING OUR STORIES OR WORKING IN THE SPACE, TRYING TO EMPOWER SOMEONE TELLING THEIR STORY, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUT THIS RELEVANT AND REAL INFORMATION OUT THERE AND WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT IS GOING TO, IT IS EITHER GOING TO HELP SOMEONE OR IT IS GOING TO EMPOWER SOMEONE IN THEIR OWN PRIVATE SECTOR.

WE THINK I’M GIVING YOU THE TOOLS, NOW GO TO THE THING.

BUT JUSTICE IS SLOW.

EVEN WHEN IT IS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO REDEFINE THEMSELVES AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE WITNESSED THEM THROUGH A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, WE OFTENTIMES ARE RECEIVING IN BOXES FROM MEN IN PARTICULAR WHO SAY I HEAR THIS IS A SAFE SPACE.

I WANT A PRIVATE CONVERSATION YOUR FIRST.

OR THEY WILL SAY I’M REACHING OUT ANONYMOUSLY ON BEHALF OF SOMEONE ELSE BUT IT IS REALLY THEM BUT THEY NEED TO BUILD TRUST FIRST.

THERE ARE POSITIVE ASPECTS WHEN IT COMES TO SOCIAL MEDIA BUT FOR ME -- PARIS: I’M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.

THERE ARE POLICIES AND LAWS THAT COVER THE WAY PERPETRATORS OF THESE CRIMES, THE WAY THEY CAN MOVE.

I’M CURIOUS FROM EACH OF YOU, I WILL START WITH YOU, WHAT IS ONE POLICY OR ACTION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE?

THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO RESCIND RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE HELPING CRIME SURVIVORS.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU THINK THE STATE CAN DO TO PROTECT PEOPLE?

KENI: SO MANY THINGS.

HONESTLY JUST ACTING FIRST.

IF SOMEONE COMES TO YOU AND THEY SAY THEY ARE A SURVIVOR, YOU TAKE THAT INFORMATION.

YOU’RE NOT JUST LIKE, OK, PROVE IT.

OR, MORE RESOURCES FOR JUST -- BASIC NECESSITIES.

BECAUSE IT IS LIKE, A LOT OF THE TIME, IT IS NOT EVEN FOCUSED ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

IT IS, THIS IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BUT I’M NOW, I NO LONGER HAVE HOUSING SO I HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT AND THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS GONE BUT IT IS STILL BOTHERING THEM.

NOW, CONTROLLING EVERY SINGLE RELATIONSHIP AFTER THAT BECAUSE THEY HAVEN’T DEALT WITH IT.

THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS IS BASIC NECESSITIES SO THEY CAN PROCESS THROUGH EVERYTHING ELSE.

PARIS: KEITH, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

KEITH: I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE STATE ACTUALLY LIFT UP THE VOICES OF REAL STORIES.

OUR REAL STORIES ARE WHAT IS GOING TO AFFECT CHANGE THE MOST.

COME HOLLER AT US, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

WE WILL BRING IN JOHN.

USING ART FORCES US TO HAVE HARDER CONVERSATIONS, AND PEOPLE WILL UNITE THROUGH STORIES AND THROUGH ART.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM TAKE THAT INITIATIVE TO HIRE ARTISTS AND FOLKS LIKE US AND HAVE REAL CONVERSATIONS AND ALLOW THE ART TO LEAD IT.

I DON’T THINK WE HAVE DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

PARIS: LASTLY?

SHAQUERA: GREAT POINTS, GREAT POINTS.

WHAT I SAY WILL PIGGYBACK OFF THAT, WE NEED MORE RESOURCES AND PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES DOING THE WORK BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LEVERAGE THE PLAYING FIELD WHEN IT COMES TO THESE RESOURCES, WHEN IT COMES TO GRANTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR NONPROFITS TO GO AFTER THESE GRANTS.

WHEN FOLKS APPLY FOR THE SAME TYPE OF GRANT, WE, FIRST OF ALL THE WORK OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS VERY SILENT.

WHEN IT COMES TO APPLYING FOR GRANTS AND TRYING TO GET TO THE MONEY TO DO THE WORK, TO HAVE THE SUSTAINABLE EFFECTS IN THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE ALL GOING AFTER THE SAME THINGS AND NOW WE ARE IN COMPETITION BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO WORK AS A COLLABORATIVE.

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE THE ONE THAT HAS THE SAVING PIECE BUT IF WE ELABORATE, WE CAN SEE WHAT THE STORIES LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF HOW WE PUT THINGS TOGETHER.

WE NEED RESOURCES, BUT WE NEED TO LEVERAGE THE PLAYING FIELD WHEN IT COMES TO STATEWIDE FUNDING BECAUSE THERE ARE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS DOING THE WORK BUT THEY AREN’T GETTING RECOGNITION.

PARIS: THIS HAS BEEN SUCH AN INSIGHTFUL CONVERSATION.

I’M HOPING IT DOESN’T END HERE.

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS AND YOUR STORIES.

WE HAVE MORE ROOTED.

PARIS:PARIS: I HAD SO STAY TUNED WE ARE LOOKING AT A GROWING NATIONAL CRISIS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE TO UPHOLD PROTECTIONS FOR SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA.

THE MASSACHUSETTS ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TAKING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO COURT, CHALLENGING FUNDING ROLLBACKS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT AND VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMPBELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CAP -- PARIS: HOW DID WE GET HERE?

BOX WE ELECTED THE WRONG PERSON.

I WILL TAKE A STEP BACK.

THE WORK WE ARE HELLO -- WE ARE DOING TO HOLD THE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE IS NOT PERSONAL.

IT IS ACCOUNTABILITY AND THAT IS WHAT WE DO, PROTECTING RESIDENTS AND THE VICTIMS.

WHAT IS AT STAKE ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, OVER $5 MILLION FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

WE ARE HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE BY FILING LAWSUITS.

IT IS OUR MOST IMPACT, LITIGATION -- IMPACTFUL TOOL, LITIGATION.

WE HAVE TWO IN THE VICTIMS SERVICES SPACE WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING RESOURCES TO MASSACHUSETTS FOLKS WHO NEED IT.

PARIS: A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DROPPED SOME CONDITIONS IT WAS IMPOSING IN TERMS OF DIRECTING FUNDS TO STATES THAT WEREN’T COMPLYING WITH ITS IMMIGRATION POLICIES.

WHAT IS THE STATUS RIGHT NOW?

A.G.

CAMPELL: WE HAVE TWO LAWSUITS.

BOTH ARE ONGOING.

ONE, WE ARE WAITING FOR A HEARING DATE BUT ALL POSITIVE AND I WOULD SAY THEY ARE WORKING.

ONE OF THE LAWSUITS WE HAVE COME THE DOJ CAME TO US AND SAID WE WILL RELEASE SOME OF THE FUND INCOME OVER $1 MILLION, AND LET SOME OF THE CONDITIONS GO WHICH IS A POSITIVE.

WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE HOPES THEY LET ALL CONDITIONS GO AND ALLOW US NOT ONLY TO DISBURSE FUNDS TO ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND TO VICTIMS DIRECTLY, BUT ALSO, TO MAKE SURE ANYONE WHO IS A VICTIM OF CRIME REGARDLESS OF THEIR STATUS OR WHERE THEY LIVE IN THE STATE, THAT THEY GET THE SERVICES THEY ARE ENTITLED TO AND THAT THEY NEED.

PARIS: ARE THERE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT CAN MAKE IT HARDER TO HELP VICTIMS OF CRIME LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AND TRAFFICKING, WHO ARE ALSO UNDOCUMENTED?

A.G.

CAMPELL: ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS A COST OR FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT WAS SUGGESTED THAT ALL IMMIGRANTS ARE CRIMINALS.

THAT IS NONSENSE.

WE KNOW BY DATA AND STORIES, AND BIRDS IN MASSACHUSETTS SOMETIMES WORK TWO OR THREE JOBS AND THEY ARE ALSO VICTIMS OF CRIMES.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT STATUS YOU HAVE, IF YOU COME TO OUR STATE AND ARE HARMED BY SOMEONE, THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO BUILD TRUST, WHICH THEY ARE DOING.

THEY REPORT CRIME.

IF SOMEONE IS HARMED BY SOMEONE IN OUR STATE, I WANT THEM TO NOT ONLY BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, BUT FOR THE PERSON WHO WAS HARMED AND THE VICTIM OF THE CRIME TO COME FORWARD SO NO ONE ELSE IS HARMED BY THE PERSON WHO COMMITTED THE ACT.

PARIS: BEYOND THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE A VICTIM OF A CRIME, WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE STATE IF THE FUNDS DON’T COME THROUGH?

A.G.

CAMPELL: IT IS TWOFOLD.

IF WE LOOK AT IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AS A WHOLE AND FOCUS ON OUR HAITIAN POPULATION, UNDER SIGNIFICANT THREAT IN MANY WAYS, NOT ONLY AS VICTIMS BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE RHETORIC AND POLICY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION.

IT REPORT FOR EXAMPLE -- IF YOU DEPORT FOR EXAMPLE EVERY SINGLE HAITIAN IN MASSACHUSETTS, OUR HEALTH CARE SERVICE, SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES WHO NEED CARE, THAT WOULD BE DISMANTLED OVERNIGHT.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS SIGNIFICANT.

FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE FUNDING FROM ALL OF THESE FORMS OF LEGISLATION TO HAVE AN IMPACT, I BROUGHT NUMBERS.

IN 2025, WE HAD OVER $4 MILLION GO TO CLOSE TO 1000 CLAIMANTS, VICTIMS, AND THEN NEARLY $17.6 MILLION TO OVER 95 VICTIM SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH LEADS TO THOUSANDS MORE BEING HELPED AND SERVICED BY NONPROFITS THAT WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING.

IT IS MEANINGFUL IMPACT FOR ANYONE WHO HAS EVER BEEN A VICTIM OF A CRIME IN THE STATE.

THEY GET THE SERVICES THEY NEED.

PARIS: EARLIER, WE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF SURVIVORS AT THE ROUNDTABLE, SHAQUERA, KEITH AND KANI.

THEY PROVIDE DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO SURVIVORS.

THEY TALKED ABOUT THE CRABS IN THE BARREL MENTALITY THAT EXISTS IN MANY SECTORS IN MASSACHUSETTS ESPECIALLY WITH NONPROFITS.

HOW THERE IS ALREADY A COMPETITION FOR THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

HOW MIGHT THAT BE WORSENED IF THESE FUNDS ARE RESCINDED OR DECREASED?

A.G.

CAMPELL: MANY FOLKS ARE JEALOUS OF OUR STATE BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME -- A PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY.

THE MENTALITY CAN EXIST BUT POST-COVID, YOU HAVE NONPROFIT LEADERS COMING TOGETHER EVEN MORE TO PUSH BACK ON THE NARRATIVE AND HOPEFULLY WORK IN COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP.

THEY ARE DOING IT NOW.

THEY ARE RECOGNIZING VICTIMS NEED SERVICES.

THEY ARE REPURCHASING ADMISSION TO PROVIDE GREATER SERVICES WHERE FUNDING MIGHT BE MORE RESTRICTED.

THEY ARE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX CREATING NEW SOURCES OF FUNDING AND BEING CREATIVE AROUND THAT.

THEY ARE SHARING BEST PRACTICES OF WHAT ARE YOU DOING SPECIFICALLY IN IMMIGRATION COMMUNITIES THESE -- AND MIGRANT COMMUNITIES TO HELP FOLKS?

THESE IDEAS ARE REACHING MORE PEOPLE.

I GIVE CREDIT TO NONPROFIT LEADERS DURING THIS MOMENT, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH PERSONAL POWERFUL STORIES WHO ARE STEPPING UP IN THE FACE OF PUSHBACK FROM THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, COLLABORATING WITH US, DOING WORK ON THE GROUND TO REACH PEOPLE.

PARIS: WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE ON THE POLICY END OF THIS?

FOR INSTANCE, WE KNOW MEN AND IMMIGRANTS, IMMIGRANTS ARE VULNERABLE, MEN ARE A POPULATION WE DON’T ALWAYS THINK OF AS VICTIMS.

ARE THERE IS -- ARE THERE THINGS WE SHOULD DO TO TARGET THESE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS?

A.G.

CAMPELL: THE NARRATIVE, MEN ARE VICTIMS AND THERE ARE CERTAIN COMMUNITIES WHERE, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND IMMIGRANTS ARE VULNERABLE TO WHAT WE TALK ABOUT.

THERE ARE NONPROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS CREATING SPECIAL INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMMING FOR POPULATIONS INCLUDING MEN, THAT REQUIRE FUNDING.

MY JOB IS TO FIGHT FOR THE FUNDING AND MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES TO COME TO MASSACHUSETTS.

ARE WORKING.

AND TO GET CREATIVE WITH IN OUR STATE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUNDING, PUTTING OUT A GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION GRANT WHICH THE OFFICE NEVER DID, A PUBLIC HEALTH MODEL AND BLENDS TO REACH MORE PEOPLE AND HAVE A GREATER IMPACT WITH OUR ORGANIZATIONS.

PARIS: THE STATE IS COMING UP THE HEELS OF AN EMERGENCY SHELTER CRISIS WHERE WE HAD A HUGE INFLUX OF MIGRANTS.

INTO THE STATE, OVERLOADING EMERGENCY SHELTERS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS DONE TO EVEN THAT OUT.

EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WERE REPORTS ON CONCERNS ABOUT CRIME THAT WAS HAPPENING WITHIN THESE EMERGENCY SHELTERS.

DO YOU THINK THE DOJ ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COULD USE THIS AS FUEL TO RESCIND THE FUNDS?

A.G.

CAMPELL: THEY ARE USING EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING AND MUCH OF IT IS NOT BASED IN FACT.

LOTS OF MISINFORMATION AND THE NARRATIVE AROUND IMMIGRANTS IS PAINFUL TO HEAR.

TO SUGGEST EVERY IMMIGRANT IS A CRIMINAL, WHEN IN MANY INSTANCES THEY ARE THE VICTIMS CRIME, AND BECAUSE THEY ARE VULNERABLE, THERE ARE PEOPLE PLANNING AND PLOTTING TO SCAM THEM OUT OF MONEY, INCLUDING LAWYERS TAKING ADVANTAGE WITH -- OF FOLKS IN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AS THEY SEEK ASYLUM.

WE ARE HOLDING THOSE FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE.

THIS IS A TIME TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL ABOUT RESOURCES AND HAVE AN IMPACT.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BEING IN GOVERNMENT IS GOVERNMENT CAN BE POSITIVE AND HAVE AN IMPACT AND REDUCE CYCLES OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME.

BUT WE DON’T HAVE A FEDERAL PARTNER LOOKING TO WORK WITH US.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHIFT THAT.

PARIS: IF YOU KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO USE THAT, HOW DO YOU DEFEND THE STATE AGAINST THAT ARGUMENT?

A.G.

CAMPELL: WE GET OUT THERE EVERY CHANNEL TO LIFT UP OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND IMPORTANTLY, NONPROFITS YOU MENTIONED THAT ARE DOING INCREDIBLE WORK EVEN IN THE HARDEST AND MOST CHALLENGING TIMES WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY IN A LONG TIME.

THEY ARE STILL DELIVERING SERVICES, EVEN THROUGH THE STATE LEVEL, STILL MEETING VICTIMS WHERE THEY ARE, STILL BRINGING ABOUT TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, FUNDING SERVICES, MAKING SURE THOSE WHO SURVIVE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAVE THE COURAGE TO COME FORWARD AND HAVE ACCESS TO HOUSING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

I’M ALIGNING WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS TO DO THE WORK AND MAKING SURE THROUGH LITIGATION EFFORTS, WE ARE BRINGING THE RESOURCES THEY DESPERATELY NEED AND DESERVE.

PARIS: WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE EMERGENCY SHELTERS, THE HOPE IS THEY CAN FIND HOUSING AND JOBS.

IT IS TOUGH IN MASSACHUSETTS.

WE KNOW A LACK OF HOUSING AND INCOME ARE THINGS THAT LEAD TO PEOPLE PERPETRATING THINGS LIKE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR GROWING INTO ABUSIVE SITUATIONS.

WHAT ELSE DOES THE STATE NEED TO DO?

YOU ARE THE TOP CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSON IN THE STATE, NOT NECESSARILY A POLICYMAKER BUT WHAT CAN BE DONE ON A HOLISTIC LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THOSE THINGS ARE IN PLACE SO PEOPLE DON’T HAVE TO RESORT TO CRIME TO SUSTAIN A LIFE HERE?

A.G.

CAMPELL: I MIGHT BE THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOR THE STATE, BUT I VIEW MY JOB AS BEING BIGGER THAN JUST ENFORCING THE LAW.

ENFORCING THE LAW CURRENTLY TELLS ME, FILED THE LAWSUITS AND GET MONEY FOR VICTIMS FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND CONTINUE TO PUSH AT THE STATE LEVEL.

ON THE POLICY FRONT, WE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.

IT IS REDEFINING WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS.

PEOPLE OFTEN VIEW PUBLIC SAFETY AS POLICING BUT WE HAD A PUBLIC HEALTH LENS TO THE WORK.

WE CAN BREAK CYCLES OF VIOLENCE IF WE ARE ADDRESSING POVERTY BECAUSE WHY CAN’T WE IMAGINE A COMMUNITY WHERE YOU DON’T NEED POLICE DEPARTMENTS, PRISONS, WHERE EVERYONE FEELS SAFE IN THEIR HOME AND THEIR COMMUNITY IN MASSACHUSETTS?

PARIS: BIG THANKS TO ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMPBELL FOR JOINING US AND TO OUR INCREDIBLE GUESTS, KEITH, SHAQUERA, AND KENI FOR SHARING INSIGHTS AND LIVED EXPERIENCES.

KEEP UP WITH ROOTED ONLINE, WATCH ON YOU TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER OR LISTEN ON SPOTIFY OR WHERE YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS.

FOLLOW US IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND SEND YOUR QUESTIONS OR STORY TIPS TO US.

STAY ROOTED,