FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – OJ Simpson’s sister-in-law, Denise Brown sounded the warning about domestic violence during an awards ceremony on Thursday.
Brown was the keynote speaker at the Marjaree Mason Center’s 35th Annual Top Ten Professional Women and Leading Business Awards.
The Fresno shelter for women and children, hosted the awards during lunchtime at the Fresno Convention Center.
“It was a way for us to recognize those women who are doing incredible works and let them know that we see the works they do and to really encourage and empower other women,” said Charity Susnick, the Center’s Director of Development and Communications.
Brown became an activist after the brutal murder of her sister Nicole Brown Simpson, the wife of OJ Simpson, in Brentwood, California
She has championed victims rights for years since her sister’s death, and spoke to the audience about of the cycle of violence.
“If you know about it you can teach people about it and you are able to make people aware of what domestic violence is all about — which is the power and control of one human being over another. The chipping away at somebody’s self esteem like you’re ugly, you’re worthless, you’re stupid, you’re no good, you’re fat, and that escalates into the physical and that’s the hitting and the kicking and the punching and the broken ribs and black eyes, and broken bones,” said Brown. “And then there’s the honeymoon phase of ‘Oh baby, that’s never gonna happen again.'”
“Denise Brown led a life remarkable only in its normalcy until June 12, 1994 when her sister, Nicole Brown Simpson, was murdered. Brown’s life path dramatically altered, she would now tell you that along with her devotion to her son, Sean, she is also committed to raising awareness against domestic violence – a crime that kills four women every day in the United States.” – Marjaree Mason Center.
On June 12, 1994, Denise’s sister Nicole Brown Simpson and friend Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death outside Nicole’s condominium in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. On October 3, 1995, a jury rendered a verdict of “not guilty” for the two murders. On February 5, 1997, a civil jury in Santa Monica, California unanimously found Simpson liable for the wrongful death of and battery against Goldman, and battery against Brown. After being found guilty in 2008 in a kidnapping, armed robbery case, Simpson started serving a 15 year sentence in a Las Vegas prison. At his parole hearing on July 20, 2017, the board decided to grant Simpson parole. He was released on October 1, 2017, having served nine years.
OJ Simpson, the man Denise believes killed her sister is walking free, but she said she has moved on from allowing him to occupy her thoughts.
“If he’s free, if he’s in jail – if he’s out of jail, if he’s dead, if he’s alive, whatever, it doesn’t matter, it still won’t bring my sister back,” said Brown. ” I just feel like you know there’s, there’s so much more important things to talk about — like the issue of domestic violence, like the issue of sexual assault.”
Brown ended her interview with KMJ with a warning to potential abuse victims.
“If I leave you with one thing,” said Brown, “I think it’s to any victim that’s out there — if they hit you once, they’ll hit you again, and if they threaten to kill you, one day they will.”
Denise Brown hopes more people support the efforts of the Center, by volunteering their time or donating money.
Hotline: (559) 233-HELP (4357)
It's Domestic Violence Awareness Month! Start a conversation with loved ones. To help spread awareness, wear purple on Oct. 25th, post on your social media and use the #PurpleThursday and @MarjareeMason. Learn more at https://t.co/prjpeSm7Oz. pic.twitter.com/VuV6bdQfjl
— Marjaree Mason Center (@MarjareeMason) October 1, 2018
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
