DETROIT – Harvette Williams will tell you when you have been stalked, it never leaves you.
For 10 years, she endured stalking from Kevin Andrew Gary, who spent 4 years in prison after he was convicted of stalking her and then breaking his probation
During the time of that stalker's incarceration, Harvette has worked tirelessly to protect other women -- men, too -- to insure there is Michigan legislation to protect stalking victims.
She is responsible for writing and pushing legislation requiring convicted stalkers to wear GPS tethers for up to two years after their release from prison. Yet, today, now that he's released, she does not know where her stalker is or if he's stalking someone else.
She and state Rep. Fred Durhal Jr. are championing two new pieces of legislation including a stalker registry which would act much like a sex offenders registry. The bill numbers are 5538 and 5539. One puts more teeth into existing anti-stalking legislation, the other creates the registry.
It likely will not be a deterrent to a stalker, but it will provide a new tool to stay out of the crosshairs of a stalker by putting the names of stalkers before the public. For instance, if you met someone at a social event (that's how Harvette met the man who stalked her) you could check the registry before handing out a business card. It's another way of knowing who's in your neighborhood or who might be insinuating themselves into your life.
Gary Pollard, chief of staff for Durhal, spoke to us by phone and explained that the time is now for the public to get involved in getting this legislation to the next step, and that's the floor for a vote. The heavy-lifting of lawmaking is done in committee and with the public weighing in on this with the lawmakers in their district, as well as sending emails, letters and making phone calls to Durhal's office. It will show lawmakers overwhelming support in getting this kind of legislation passed, and passed quickly.
Here's a shortcut to let your lawmaker know you support this legislation.
Email: freddurhal@house.mi.gov
Or send a letter to:
Fred Durhal, Jr.
PO Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514
Additional information:
PDF: Violence Against Women - Facts about Stalking
PDF: Violence Against Women - Stalking
PDF: End Stalking in America, Inc