Woman Lost Her Job for Trying to Stop Child Abuse

DZBO,

After reading what you wrote about the man who slapped the child in Wal-Mart, I had to tell you about what I have seen many times at the place where I work. You might want to post this.

I moved to South Texas from New York to take care of my sick father. I got a part time job in a small shop where lot of people who came from Mexico. Most of them don't speak English. When I first started working there, I saw from time to time mothers and fathers who would abuse their children right there in the store. At first I would try to stop it, but was told by the shop owner that I should mind my own business and go back to work.

About a year ago, I saw a mother not only slap her child but started pulling on his arm until the child was crying in pain. I tried my best to stop her. Not only told to go by own way, I was fired.

I did try to report the abuse to the police. They did not take a report. I was told that I did not have need information and things were different in Texas than New York. It was as if they did not care.

Later, after talking to other people there in town, I found that this was not uncommon. People just looked that other way.

One person told me that when I see that kind of thing to just walk away. Well, I guess I'm a fool.

As I was shopping for food, again I saw a woman beating up on her child. I couldn't just stand by and watch this. I tried to stop her and someone called the police on me. I was taken to the station and held there for about an hour until told to go home.

I went home, back to New York. I took my father with me and will never go back to Texas again. I don't understand why they just turn their back on what is happening, but I don't want to be a part of it.

When I told my friends in New York about it, some of them told me that small towns like that one just have different ways going thing and I don't know their laws. To me child abuse is child abuse in all States and should be reported. Maybe I don't understand but I still feel that someone should do something.

Mary