Fujah - America's Stories - Missouri Culture

When the word “abuse” is uttered, differing pictures come to mind. For some, it is being screamed at or knocked down by a resounding slap. For others, it is the constant threat of a beating from a temperamental alcoholic before they pass out prostrate on the kitchen floor or perhaps it's the haunting vacant eyes of a desolate, hungry, unloved child. For Lori Brooke, it was the type of abuse most of us try desperately not to picture and, if honest, would rather not even have to think about or discuss; SEXUAL ABUSE. Lori was not given a choice or the luxury of blissful ignorance.

“I only remember it starting around age 3 but my psychologist thought it started earlier than that.”

Lori then shared that her abuse continued lasting over a decade. Then one day after coming home from school, she was given the “key” to open up and the courage to speak out against the abuse being done to her.

In her own words,

“I had just come home from school and saw an episode of Oprah and for the first time put a word to what was happening to me "molestation". Then I began to cry and told my parents over and over again, “he touched me!”, “he touched me!”

Fourteen years later in 2010, after Lori and her family had spent over seven years determined to have her abuser brought to justice; he was finally standing before a judge. Yet, even with a taped confession and documented proof of physical damage done, his sentence was a mere two years probation. Then due to a plea bargain agreement made by the prosecuting attorney, he was not added to the list of sexual predators. This was an unexpected blow to Lori and her family as they had obviously hoped he would be put away or at the very least, be on a national watch list. However, Lori still walked away from the courthouse with the satisfaction that other little girls might be spared her fate because she had spoken up bringing her abuser’s darkness out into the light. Lori gained more than just this satisfaction, however.

With the court part of the fight over, Lori felt a deep need to raise the awareness of the abuses happening next door to all of us and launched an organization called S.T.A.N.D. (Stop The Abuse Next Door).

S.T.A.N.D. is simply acting as a banner under which all abuse organizations, local and international, can come together to raise awareness, inform and encourage all of us to stand against abuse in any form, as well as, empower victims to speak out and to be silent no longer. When her case was concluded, judges and lawyers from Laclede County came forward voicing their disappointment at the outcome. They were outraged at the way the current incumbents were trying to sweep these abuse incidences under the courthouse rug. When they heard about Lori’s organization they contacted her for more information and ask if they could support S.T.A.N.D.

They went on to prove their sincerity by aiding her in the launch of her first S.T.A.N.D. event in Laclede County, the very county where her years of abuse had taken place. It was important to them to show that there were still public figures willing to stand for the abused. Lori has also gotten wonderful support from her Nashville friends and the family members of Johnny Cash, who have chosen to lend their name to

the cause of S.T.A.N.D. further guaranteeing its success and outreach possibilities. In fact, Joanne Cash-Yates will be one of the featured performers at the September 10^th event in Lebanon, MO. Johnny Cash's niece and his assistant for 15 years, Kelly Hancock, is now one of S.T.A.N.D’s Board of Directors. Kelly is assisting in the organization of this huge event and reiterates her passion for S.T.A.N.D. by saying:

“I am honored to be on the Board of Directors with S.T.A.N.D. - an organization poised to STOP THE ABUSE NEXT DOOR. This organization was formed by my dear friend, Lori Brooke, and is the first one ever designed to bring these like minded organizations together to fight abuse. What an awesome opportunity to be a part of this ground breaking organization that is ready to move mountains for victims of abuse.”