The B.C. Lions’ “Be More Than a Bystander” campaign against domestic violence has never been more relevant or important than right now.
The Canadian Football League team has released the latest round of Be More Than a Bystander videos while the National Football League is reeling in the wake of the Ray Rice scandal. Rice was suspended indefinitely and released by the Baltimore Ravens this week after video emerged of him knocking his fiancée unconscious in an elevator at an Atlantic City hotel on Valentine’s Day weekend.
Be More Than a Bystander wasn’t launched in reaction to the Rice situation. The Lions first partnered with Ending Violence Association of B.C. (EVA BC) in 2011 on the public awareness initiative that focuses on ending physical, sexual, emotional and verbal abuse against women.
Every year in B.C., there are more than 60,000 physical or sexual assaults against women.