Freedom Means More Than Fireworks

Freedom Means More Than Fireworks

 

Like many people who grew up in the 1990s, I remember turning the radio up every July and belting out Martina McBride’s Independence Day at the top of my lungs. At sixteen, I knew every word. I loved the melody, the drama, and the symbolism of the song. Of course, I didn’t fully understand what I was singing about. At sixteen, “freedom” was getting my driver’s license, spending time with friends, and dreaming about what life would look like after graduation. Domestic violence was a story in a song; it was something that happened somewhere else to someone else.

 

Today, those lyrics carry an entirely different meaning. Every day at SafeHouse, we meet individuals whose Independence Day hasn’t come yet. Freedom isn’t measured in fireworks or parades. It’s the moment someone sleeps through the night without fear. It’s signing the lease on a first apartment. It’s watching children laugh without listening for the next argument. It’s attending court with an advocate by your side. It’s finding your voice after someone spent years trying to silence it.

 

Freedom is not simply leaving abuse…it is having the opportunity to rebuild a life.

 

Just a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Washington, D.C., for my third Advocacy Days alongside colleagues from across Alabama and the country. We met with members of Congress and their staff to discuss the realities facing survivors and the organizations that serve them. We talked about the importance of sustainable funding, rural access to services, prevention education, and ensuring that every survivor, regardless of where they live, has access to safety and support. I don’t take that opportunity for granted. The ability to walk into our nation’s capital, share the stories of our communities, and advocate for meaningful change is a freedom many around the world never experience. Advocacy is one of the most powerful ways we exercise that freedom, both for ourselves and for people whose voices are too often unheard.

 

As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, we will rightly reflect on the freedoms that define our country. Yet anniversaries also invite us to ask an important question: Who still struggles to experience those freedoms?

 

For someone living with domestic violence, freedom can feel painfully out of reach. Fear, financial dependence, isolation, trauma, and threats often create barriers that are difficult to imagine unless you’ve witnessed them firsthand. Freedom requires more than courage. It requires a community willing to stand beside survivors with compassion, resources, and hope. That is the work we do together. Whether you answer a hotline call, volunteer your time, make a donation, attend an event, partner with us professionally, or simply learn more about the realities of domestic violence, you become part of someone else’s journey toward independence.

 

I still sing along when Independence Day comes on the radio. The difference is that now I think about the thousands of survivors whose stories have intersected with ours over the years. I think about the advocates who answer the phone at 2:00 a.m., the counselors who help survivors heal, the law enforcement officers, nurses, prosecutors, judges, volunteers, donors, and community partners who believe every person deserves to live free from violence.

 

Freedom is worth celebrating.

It’s also worth protecting.

As we celebrate our nation’s independence this season, may we remember that the truest measure of freedom is not only the liberties we enjoy ourselves, but the opportunities we create for others to experience safety, dignity, and hope. Together, we can help ensure that every survivor has the chance to celebrate their own Independence Day.

 

Sincerely,

Janelle Sierra

Executive Director

SafeHouse