IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1049 

Recognizing the murders of the Imperial Avenue Eleven as a tragedy and 

an example of the need to continue the fight to eradicate violence against 

women. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 29, 2010 

Ms. FUDGE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the murders of the Imperial Avenue Eleven as 

a tragedy and an example of the need to continue the 

fight to eradicate violence against women. 

Whereas the Imperial Avenue Eleven include Tonia Carmichael, Nancy Cobbs, Tishana Culver, Crystal Dozier, 

Telacia Fortson, Amelda Hunter, Leshanda Long, 

Michelle Mason, Kim Yvette Smith, Diane Turner, and 

Janice Webb; 

Whereas the Imperial Avenue Eleven are 11 African-American women who were murdered by strangulation and 

several of whom also raped; 

Whereas the Imperial Avenue Eleven’s remains were first discovered in October of 2009 on Imperial Avenue in CleveVerDate Nov 24 2008 20:45 Jan 29, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1049.IH HR1049

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•HRES 1049 IH 

land, Ohio, at the home of Anthony Sowell, a registered 

sex offender and convicted attempted rapist; 

Whereas many of the families and friends of the Imperial Avenue Eleven reported them as missing persons to the authorities months before their remains were found or an 

investigation was commenced; 

Whereas the case of the Imperial Avenue Eleven gained national and international attention, demonstrating that violence against women continues to plague communities in 

the United States 15 years after Congress enacted the 

Violence Against Women Act; 

Whereas despite the recent 15th anniversary of the Violence 

Against Women Act, violence affects women of all races 

and ethnicities; 

Whereas 17.7 percent of White women, 18.8 percent of Black 

women, 6.8 percent of Asian-Pacific Islander women, 

34.1 percent of Native American and Alaskan women, 

and 24.4 percent of mixed race women report that they 

have suffered a rape or attempted rape in their lifetime; 

and 

Whereas far too many women in communities and neighborhoods in the United States, and across the world, continue to suffer from violence: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the murders of the Imperial Ave3 nue Eleven as a tragedy and an example of the need 

4 to continue the fight to eradicate violence against 

5 women; 


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•HRES 1049 IH 

1 (2) extends condolences to the families and 

2 loved ones of the Imperial Avenue Eleven; 

3 (3) recognizes the relentless work of local and 

4 national organizations in the fight to end violence 

5 against women and to bring attention to the mur6 ders of the Imperial Avenue Eleven; 

7 (4) recognizes a significant need for an increase 

8 in efforts and awareness to reduce the epidemic of 

9 violence against women; and 

10 (5) calls upon men and women of all ages, com11 munities, organizations, and all levels of government, 

12 to work in collaboration to end violence against 

13 women. 

Æ 


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