NFL Players Commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Upcoming SVU Marathon

On Sunday, October 25th, usa network is teaming with Mariska Hargitay, the Joyful Heart Foundation, the NO MORE campaign, and NFL players to host a special "Law & Order: SVU" NO MORE Excuses Marathon in commemoration of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The marathon will feature 14 powerful episodes wrapped with newly filmed interstitials, PSAs and digital content throughout the day. The new interstitial campaign features Hargitay and NFL stars -- including William Gay (Pittsburgh Steelers), Andrew Hawkins (Cleveland Browns), Mark Herzlich (New York Giants), Ben Watson (New Orleans Saints) and Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys) - encouraging everyone to "get off the sidelines" to help stop domestic violence and sexual assault.

"I'm proud and heartened to stand with USA and NFL players to say NO MORE to domestic violence and sexual assault," said Mariska Hargitay. "Being part of NO MORE from the beginning has been a great privilege. We must confront the myths and excuses surrounding-and perpetuating-domestic violence and sexual assault. Together, we can bring an end to this violence."

During each episode of the 14-hour SVU marathon, viewers will be encouraged to take a pledge to get involved at NOMORE.org and seek additional information from national hotlines and other resources. Throughout the day, USA, Joyful Heart, and NO MORE also will use social media platforms to encourage conversation and inspire greater action to stop and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. People can follow and join the dialogue by using #NOMOREexcuses.

NO MORE is a public awareness campaign designed to engage bystanders around ending domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition to the new content broadcast during Sunday's marathon, PSAs created by Y&R, produced by Joyful Heart, directed by Hargitay and featuring celebrities, public figures and athletes will air. These PSAs that highlight the myths and excuses that create misplaced blame on survivors and allow perpetrators to escape accountability will also air. The goal of all the NO MORE PSAs is to help normalize the conversation and break the social stigma surrounding domestic violence and sexual assault. By increasing visibility and fostering more dialogue, NO MORE seeks to change social norms, improve public policies, and generate more resources to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault.

USA has been a leading champion of the effort to stop domestic violence and sexual assault, teaming with Joyful Heart and NO MORE over a year ago to create the "NO MORE Excuses" SVU marathons. Throughout six marathons held since April 2014, more than 25 million viewers have tuned in and gotten critical information and support. The National Sexual Assault Hotline operated by RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the National Domestic Violence Hotline and other NO MORE coalition partners have seen tremendous increases in calls and website traffic during each marathon. For example, during the April 2014 marathon, the National Sexual Assault Hotline saw a 106% increase in the number of people helped; the National Domestic Violence Hotline had a 21% increase in calls; 1in6.org experienced a 116.2% increase in web traffic and the NO MORE website received a 2,463% surge in traffic. In addition, the hashtags #sayNOMORE, #NOMORE and #NOMOREexcuses trended nationally during the marathon.

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