In recognition of National Stalking Awareness Month (NSAM), the SAFE Project invites everyone to participate in the Stalking Awareness Day of Action on January 18th, 2024. This day holds significance as it commemorates the tragic murder of Peggy Klinke by her stalker in 2003, inspiring her sister Debbie Riddle to become an anti-stalking activist and co-founder of NSAM.

NSAM serves as an annual call to action, urging society to acknowledge and respond to the criminal, traumatic, and dangerous act of stalking. Debbie Riddle shared, “Peggy had a sparkling personality and would light up a room. As the stalking continued, we saw that shine fade.” To honor Peggy and all victims, the campaign encourages people to spark a conversation on stalking by wearing their flashiest, most sparkly clothes and accessories on January 18th, and sharing pictures with the hashtags #SparkleAgainstStalking and #NSAMDayofAction.

Stalking often goes unnoticed or lacks the urgency it deserves. Statistics reveal that stalking increases the risk of intimate partner homicide by three times, and one in five stalkers use weapons to threaten or harm victims. This dangerous victimization frequently intersects with physical and sexual violence, causing survivors to suffer from anxiety, social dysfunction, and severe depression. Many also experience disruptions to their work and may even need to relocate.

To address this issue, the SAFE Project emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about stalking and fostering an accurate understanding of its danger and urgency. Recognizing that the majority of victims confide in friends or family first, the way society responds significantly influences whether they seek further help.

Joining efforts across the nation, SAFE Project calls on advocacy and support services, legal systems, victims, survivors, and their friends and family to collectively better recognize and respond to stalking. On January 18th, let’s unite to raise awareness and contribute to a safer environment. Learn more about the cause at StalkingAwareness.org.

Sources:

1. Spencer, C.M. & Stith, S.M. (2018). Risk Factors for Male Perpetration and Female Victimization of Intimate Partner Homicide: A Meta-Analysis. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 21(3), 527-540.
2. Mohandie, K., Meloy, J.R., McGowan, M.G., & Williams, J. (2006). The RECON Typology of Stalking: Reliability and Validity Based upon a Large Sample of North American Stalkers. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 51(1), 147-155.
3. Blaauw, E., Arensman, E., Winkel, F.W., Freeve, A., & Sheridan, L. (2002). The Toll of Stalking. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17(1), 50-63.