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Well-Known Names To Lead Dallas Rally Against Domestic Violence

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State Representative Rafael Anchia will be the master of ceremonies at Saturday’s “Dallas Men Against Abuse” rally.  

Also on the stage Saturday at City Hall Plaza will be Cowboys legends Roger Staubach, Emmitt Smith. And, if there’s no Saturday morning practice, Dallas Maverick Dirk Nowitski; plus other celebrities and experts joining the mayor’s call for an end to violence against women.

Crayton Webb is director of corporate social responsibility for Mary Kay, and the father of three young boys.  He says he and others from Mary Kay will be there.  

“We have to set the example," Webb said at the mayor's pre-rally news conference. "We will be there in Saturday in force mayor, wearing our pink. And we’ll be there after the 23rd to have the conversation about what comes next to ensure that in the next generation domestic violence ends once and for all.”     

Mary Kay and Verizon both donated $25,000 to help with rally expenses.

Mayor Rawlings has called for 10,000 men and boys to rally at City Hall Plaza Saturday morning. He sees the rally as the beginning of an important culture shift.

“This is a teaching moment for the city of Dallas:  a moment that we say we’re going to make domestic abuse a dinosaur, like throwing trash out your window is a dinosaur," Rawlings said.  "And I think we can do it.”

Last year, there were 26 domestic violence murders in the city of Dallas, double the year before.  

Former KERA reporter BJ Austin spent more than 25 years in broadcast journalism, anchoring and reporting in Atlanta, New York, New Orleans and Dallas. Along the way, she covered Atlanta City Hall, the Georgia Legislature and the corruption trials of Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards.