PITTSBURGH, May 17, 2016 – Nine Pittsburgh Pirates, including All-Stars Andrew McCutchen, Gerrit Cole, Mark Melancon and Josh Harrison, are taking a stand and saying NO MORE to gender violence in Western Pennsylvania.
The four players, along with teammates Jon Niese, Jordy Mercer, Jared Hughes, Chris Stewart and Sean Rodriguez, are featured in new public service announcements that the team produced for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The PSAs were unveiled today during a press conference in Market Square, Downtown, and will be featured prominently in PCADV’s yearlong campaign to raise public awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault. The PSAs are available to the public at www.pasaysnomore.com.
“The Pirates’ ownership, management, coaches and players are lending their voices to the growing chorus of men in Pennsylvania who are saying, ‘Being a man does not mean physically or emotionally abusing women’; it means treating your partner with dignity and educating others about healthy relationships,’’ said PCADV Executive Director Peg J. Dierkers.
Dierkers also thanked Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto, SW PA Says No More, and local corporate sponsors, including FedEx Ground and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, for their support.
“We salute the local civic, religious and business leaders who are working together to make Pittsburgh a model for our state in the campaign to end gender violence for the next generation,’’ Dierkers said.
“All of Pittsburgh needs to come together – now – to stop gender violence and sexual assault in our communities,’’ Mayor Peduto said. “I applaud the Pirates and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence for their leadership on this critical issue.’’
SW Pa Says No More joined PCADV at the press conference to announce plans for the third annual #FathersDayPledgePA campaign across the commonwealth. Western Pennsylvania activities include a June 17 rally at the Allegheny County Courthouse, a NO MORE awareness night at a Pirates’ home game and a newspaper advertisement promoting the names of prominent civic leaders who have pledged to help end gender violence.
“This is a pivotal moment,’’ said Kristy Trautmann, executive director of the FISA Foundation. “Men in our community, across the state and over the country, are speaking out against violence against women. We are proud that the Pirates, our elected officials, leaders of corporations and non-profit organizations, churches, synagogues, schools and colleges, are all using their influence to challenge attitudes and behaviors that disrespect and demean women.
“We’re working together to teach young people what healthy relationships look like, and to know what to do it peers are being abusive. I’m inspired. And I think it’s making a difference.’’
This is the third consecutive year for the #FathersDayPledgePA, which asks men to sign a petition pledging to help end gender violence in their communities. The first year featured a full-page Post-Gazette ad with photos and signatures of Mayor Peduto, Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle, and four-dozen Pittsburgh-area civic leaders who had signed the pledge.
The Pirates expanded their involvement last year by having players and coaches tape 30-second commercials saying NO MORE to domestic violence and sexual assault. The Pirates also played host to a NO MORE awareness night at PNC Park, and invited western Pennsylvania domestic violence and sexual assault programs to provide information to the public at tables set up outside the Federal Street entrance gates.
The Pirates again will host local domestic violence and sexual assault programs at informational booths outside PNC Park’s Federal Street gates before their Saturday, June 4 game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m.
Southwest PA Says NO MORE will host a noontime rally at the Allegheny County Courthouse courtyard on Friday, June 17, two days before Father’s Day. Local civic leaders will speak about gender violence and sign the pledge. An op-ed article and a full-page advertisement to promote the #FathersDayPledgePA campaign will appear Father’s Day weekend in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The public may access an updated list of events, and sign the online petition, at www.pasaysmore.com.
The Philadelphia Phillies also filmed NO MORE PSAs and hosted a NO MORE awareness night at Citizens Bank Park last year, and will be doing both again this year. The Phillies’ NO MORE awareness night at the ballpark is June 16. Dierkers said that Pennsylvania was fortunate to have two Major League Baseball teams publicly committed to ending gender violence.
“We’re trying to change the conversation about what it means to be a man – being strong but without devaluing or objectifying women,’’ Dierkers said. “We want to raise awareness about being a different type of man.”
About PCADV
Founded in 1976, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence is the oldest statewide domestic violence coalition in the nation. Each year it provides free and confidential services to nearly 100,000 victims of domestic violence, through a network of 60 community-based programs serving all 67 counties in the commonwealth. PCADV also promotes public awareness of domestic violence-related issues through its PA SAYS NO MORE campaign, which it operates in partnership with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. For more information, visit www.pcadv.org or www.pasaysnomore.com, or follow PCADV on Facebook and on Twitter, @pcadvorg. To learn more about Southwest PA Says NO MORE, please visit www.southwestpasaysnomore.org.
#FathersDayPledgePA Confirmed Events
5/17 MARKET SQUARE, Pittsburgh — Kickoff press conference
6/4 PNC PARK, PITSTSBURGH — NO MORE awareness night, Pirates vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; local domestic violence programs will operate informational booths outside PNC Park gates on Federal Street, North Side, before the 4:05 p.m. EDT first pitch.
6/16 CITIZENS BANK PARK, PHILADELPHIA—NO MORE awareness night, Phillies vs. Toronto Blue Jays; local domestic violence programs will operate informational booths at stadium gates before 7:05 EDT first pitch.
6/17 ALLEGHENY COUNTY COURTHOUSE — rally, sponsored by SW PA Says No More. Beginning at noon, civic leaders will publicly say NO MORE to gender violence and sign the #FathersDayPledgePA petition.
6/18-19 Op-ed article and full-page advertisements in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Philadelphia Inquirer, promoting local civic leaders who have signed #FathersDayPledgePA petition.
*The public can access an updated calendar of events and sign the #FathersDayPledge Petition online at www.pasaysnomore.com.