Advocates rally for Jesse's Law to protect children in domestic violence cases

Remembrance and calls for change brought many domestic violence survivors to the North Carolina State Capitol on Sunday. Survivors and advocates are calling state senators to help pass Jesse's Law, or House Bill 896, to help bring stronger protection to family courts.
Posted 10/26/2025, 11:21:56 PM Updated 10/27/2025, 12:00:07 AM

WALKED INTO WAKE MED.

THANKFULLY, BOTH VICTIMS HERE

ARE EXPECTED TO RECOVER.

CALLS FOR CHANGE AT THE STATE

CAPITOL TODAY. DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE SURVIVORS GATHERED TO

REMEMBER THOSE LOST TO ABUSE.

THE BILL'S FLYNN SNYDER

EXPLAINS THEIR LATEST EFFORTS

TO PROTECT THE YOUNGEST

VICTIMS.

>> WITH PUTIN FOR CHRISTINE

MAILED IN THE MEMORY OF HER 3

YEAR-OLD SON. JESSE IS ALWAYS

PRESENT NOVEMBER 15 TO 17.

>> EVERY YEAR STUFF. I MAKE IT

THROUGH IT. IT'S BEEN MORE THAN

13 YEARS SINCE MELVIN SAYS HER

ESTRANGED HUSBAND SHOT AND

KILLED JESSIE.

>> THEN TURNED THE GUN ON

HIMSELF ALL WHILE ON THE PHONE

WITH HER MELVIN SAYS IT

FOLLOWED AN ABUSIVE

RELATIONSHIP WITH HER HUSBAND

WHO WAS AWARDED JOINT CUSTODY

OF THE 3 YEAR-OLD AND WE DEMAND

A SYSTEM THAT PROTECTS TUTOR,

BELIEVE SURVIVORS. IT ENDS THE

CYCLE. OF COURSE, IT WILL USE

THE BUILDING WAS AMONG DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE. SURVIVORS WHO SPOKE

AT THE STATE CAPITOL DEMANDING

STRONGER PROTECTIONS IN THE

FAMILY COURT SYSTEM. THIS

YEAR'S GATHERING CAME WITH A

CALL TO ACTION FOR STATE

LAWMAKERS TO PASS JESSE'S LAW.

I WOULD CREATE A COMMISSION

TASKED WITH BOLSTERING ABUSE

TRAINING FOR COURT JUDGES AND

PERSONNEL. THE LAW PASSED THE

NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE WITH

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT EARLIER THIS

YEAR. ADVOCATES ARE CALLING

ON STATES SENATORS TO FOLLOW

>> IF YOU'RE NOT PROPERLY

TRAINED, HOW CAN YOU MAKE A?

PROPER DECISIONS? JUST THE

RIGHT DECISION TO PROTECT THE

PEOPLE YOU'RE MAKING THAT

DECISION FOR THE LEADERSHIP

COUNCIL ON CHILD ABUSE

ESTIMATES. 58,000 CHILDREN

NATIONWIDE ARE PLACED IN THE

SOUL OR UNSUPERVISED CUSTODY

OF AN ABUSIVE PARENT. EACH YEAR

IS TO PROTECT EVERY CHILD.

>> EVERY FAMILY THAT IS GOING

THROUGH THESE SITUATIONS.

I DON'T WANT TO JUST DO NEED TO

HEAR ABOUT CHILDREN BEING

MURDERED

>> WELL, BECAUSE THEY'RE GIVING

IT THEIR INTEREST RATE. IT'S

THE NEXT STEP IN A SIX-YEAR

FIGHT TO PASS JESSE'S LAW.

>> AND HOW MELVIN SEEKS TO USE

HER TRAGEDY TO PROTECT OTHERS.