County proclaims '16 Days of Activism' against gender‑based violence; Zonta Club leaders urge action

The Yellowstone County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 26 read and adopted Resolution 24‑156, proclaiming the internationally observed "16 Days of Activism" against gender‑based violence from Nov. 25 through Dec. 10.

Anne Heffner, introduced to the board as a member of the Zonta Club of Billings, thanked the commissioners for the proclamation and described the campaign as a countywide signal that violence against women "will not be tolerated." She said the proclamation supports survivors and encourages community action.

Renee Coppock, who identified herself as a Zonta Club of Billings member and a past international director for Zonta International, cited statistics she attributed to the United Nations and the Montana Department of Justice: she said "on average, 140 women and girls per day were killed by an intimate partner or family member last year alone," and referenced roughly 51,100 deaths globally in 2023. Coppock also told the board that, in Yellowstone County, nearly 60% of reported crime is related to domestic violence and that Montana Department of Justice data show 248 statewide deaths from intimate‑partner homicide since 2021. She urged local action including bystander intervention, education, and efforts to promote gender equity.

The board read the proclamation into the record and a commissioner moved for approval; the motion was seconded and the board adopted the proclamation by unanimous voice vote.

The transcript records local advocacy and national statistics as presented by Zonta Club speakers; the board did not record new county funding or a specific program tied to the proclamation during this meeting. The proclamation urges citizens to support organizations and policies that address gender‑based violence and encourages public education and community engagement.