Comments

I can't begin to tell you how relieved I am to see that our youth are concerned about this topic. I am a troop leader for Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande, in El PAso, Texas, and a detention officer for El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department. I currently run the Studio 2B Program ( Girl Scouts) which is a program designed by girls for girls at the Juvenile Probation Department. It appears that our youth are fed up with abuse and rape. One of the focus series books is called "Take Charge" and it is about rape and abuse. In the book it also recommends to "yell fire" for the same reasons you described. Your video , along with my group will be most helpful and impactful. I will definately forward your link to Girl Scouts of the Rio Grande.

Thank you and the girls for making such an awsome movie. It is important that girls protect themselves. Thanks again.

I have just heard about the DVD from members of a city-wide committee that deals with domestic violence in the Jewish community. As we all know, date rape, abduction and other types of violence cross cultural, racial and religious lines -- they highly recommended this film for use in our schools.

Thank you so much --

I saw your information on the back of my Doritos bag and it was like a sending from above. What you are doing is so amazing. And I appreciate it so much. The neighbor hood I live in is not safe at all, and neither is the place I work. Guys view girls as just their next crime victims, and it frightens me.I could not believe my eyes when I read the back of my Doritos bag. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. A million times thank you.

I am interested in becoming a certified trainer for Just Yell Fire. I gained my Master's degree in Library Science last May with an emphasis in children's and youth services, and hope to find a job soon as a public librarian. With the amount of contact I will have in that field with young and teenage girls, as well as contacts with schools and other libraries, I would like to find out how to become involved and help promote your program.

I have been training in aikido as a self-defense art since June, and will be testing for my first rank soon. The more I learned in aikido, the more it made me aware of how girls and women in America are socialized about violence. Movies, television, and popular media seem to promote the belief that girls and women cannot win or escape in a situation where we are under attack by a man. Recognizing this made me interested in finding out what programs were already available to promote girls' and women's self-defense. I discovered Just Yell Fire by Googling "women's self-defense". I was thrilled to find that someone has begun a movement to counter that socialization early in women's lives, beginning with teaching the girls who are most at risk that they CAN defend themselves and escape an attacker, even if their attacker is much larger. I myself am only 5'1", and the techniques that eliminate an attacker's advantage of greater height are also especially applicable to me.

I live in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, and I would like any information available on training for certification for Just Yell Fire, either locally or in neighboring states if necessary. Many thanks to you, Dallas, and everyone else involved with Just Yell Fire for your caring and hard work.

A few days ago I watched Montel on TV and on the episode they talked about "just yell fire". I was so impresed by what the girls had done that I downloaded the move from your webbsite. I write this email to tell you how fare the move has gone and that I will tell all my friends about it.

I think it is an incredible thing what these girls have done. If any of them wants they are free to contact me by email, or if they don't want to do that I just want to send them all my luck and blessings.

You are an inspiration

I watched the Montel Williams show and I was impressed that such young girls have stepped up to help others. I have a daughter, and I think that this movie would benefit her, and give my husband and I a little peace, knowing that she has the information needed to ward off a possible attack.

I used to be a Juvenile probation officer, working with girl offenders. I've tried to tell the girls not to put themselves in dangerous situations, but a few haven't been so lucky and I've sat through a few rape exams with them. Over the years, I've told the girls that if they can't get away, leave their DNA behind - a finger nail, hair etc. I think this video will be a great new tool that we will use in our girls' circle group. Now, I'm working with foster kids and hope to share this with some of the older teens on my caseload. Good luck in all your endeavors and I'll share the information on the link with my co-workers.

This is a comment sent in to our trainers Leila Rae Sommerfeld and Valerie Mainridge of Gresham, OR

Thank you again from our entire team! You and Valerie did such a fabulous job. Several of our volunteers commented at the end that your traiing was the best self-defense class they had ever taken - and several had attended classes in the past. you adapted your presentation to fit perfectly into our time constraints and skill level. You and Valerie brought such great energy and enthusiasm to our class. We especially appreciate you taking time on a Sunday. We feel empowered to continue to advocate for sexually exploited women in and around Portland.

We are so pleased to know you and your work. I hope this is only the beginning of our partnership.

Thank you for my DVD. I have received it and I LOVE IT. It came just before Christmas. Great Job girls!!! I want to use this as a training video for my daughters and their friends. It covers a lot of different areas of concern and being a part of the Law Enforcement/ Security community for the last 20 years I agree totally.