2019 NCVRW Theme Video Clip

STEVE TWIST, FOUNDER, ARIZONA VOICE FOR CRIME VICTIMS: The crime victims' movement arose out of a million cases of injustice.

LAWANDA HAWKINS, FOUNDER, JUSTICE FOR MURDERED CHILDREN: Everybody's concerned about the rights of the perpetrator. No one's thinking that victims should have any rights. And we're here—treated with no dignity, no respect.

STEVE TWIST: And these stories of injustice arose, and they created a movement that culminated in President Reagan calling for a task force on victims of crime.

ELYNNE GREENE, MANAGER, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND VICTIM SERVICES, LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT: Suddenly crime became an issue, but not only was it about crime, but it was addressing the emotional, the physical, and the financial impact.

ELSIE R. BOUDREAU, YUP’IK, PRESIDENT, ARCTIC WINDS HEALING WINDS: Believing them is really important. Validating them, you know, "You're not alone." "It wasn't your fault."

STEVE TWIST: I think the struggle for victims' rights can give meaning to the work of professionals in the field today.

SHERIDAN MIYAMOTO, PH.D., DIRECTOR, SAFE-T CENTER, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY: Multidisciplinary teams coming together, legislators really beginning to care about this issue.

HERMAN MILLHOLLAND, CONSULTANT, MASS VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM: It is those partnerships that are key and essential to the recovery of a community.

STEVE TWIST: The past gives us every reason to have hope. We would be nowhere without that legacy.

ELYNNE GREENE: And we hold on to that just as we continue to support each other and mentor that new group of advocates that are going to carry us into the future.