'She Survived': Bronx woman creates documentary sharing stories of domestic abuse

A woman from the Bronx is putting together a documentary to tell the stories of women who have survived abuse and to raise awareness about domestic violence.

News 12 Staff

Apr 18, 2021, 9:53 PM

Updated 1,266 days ago

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A woman from the Bronx is putting together a documentary to tell the stories of women who have survived abuse and to raise awareness about domestic violence.
According to the World Health Organization, one in every three women have experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in their lifetime.
Bronx resident Judi Polanco says domestic violence was a very real concern for her from a young age.
"I grew up in an environment where my mom was physically and verbally abused by my dad in front of my brothers and I," she says. Polanco is sharing her story as she launches a documentary on domestic violence called "She Survived." "Women are getting attacked by their significant other or by somebody in their home, but we're not doing more about it," Polanco says.
The documentary will tell the stories of 10 survivors from the city.
Marqui Smith is one of the women involved in the project. She says her abuse started when she was a teen and it continue for many years.
"Feeling like my young boyfriend was in charge of everything, like my clothes and my food," Smith says. "I've been in quite a few abusive relationships because it became my norm."
Polanco is working with a New York-based cinematographer for the project. She started a campaign on Indiegogo with a goal of $15,000.
Polanco says she's determined get the project completed by fall.
"As a mom and as a woman, I feel that I don't want my daughters to grow up thinking that it's OK that it's the norm to be a victim of domestic violence because they're women," she says.
The NYC Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-621-4673. Visit the NYS Domestic Violence Program Directory for more resources.