There are two main goals of Minnesota United Against Domestic Violence. The first is educating the public about domestic violence and the other is advocating for changes in the legislature to prevent domestic violence offenders from committing further violent offenses.

The incident that brought Blackstad and Gant together was the double homicide of Justin Reinarts and Tabitha Trescott in Hanska in early November. Shortly after the murder, a suspect, Randy Zimmerman, was arrested and charged with the double murder. It was learned that Zimmerman had prior convictions for domestic violence and was facing multiple charges of harassment and stalking at the time of the murders.

For Blackstad, these crimes hit close to home.

“I grew up in Hanska,” she said. “I knew Justin Reinarts. I rode to school with his sons on the school bus. I work at the gas station near his home part-time. I can still remember what items he normally got when he came into the store.”

Morgan Blackstad and Cris Gant, founders of Minnesota United Against Domestic Violence, met while honoring Justin Reinarts at his funeral. The two shared a goal of advocating for greater domestic violence awareness and greater enforcement to protect the public from domestic violence offenders. In photo: Morgan Blackstad holds a Hanksa Strong sign (left) and Cris Gant (right) holds a speak up sign.

Blackstad said in a town as small as Hanska, the loss of Reinarts was more than losing a neighbor, it was like losing a family friend. Through local Facebook groups, Blackstad organized the community to show support for Reinarts and his family during the funeral. Gant was one of the people who showed up in support that day.

Gant said before the meeting that day, she had privately messaged Blackstad and the two had talked about advocating for domestic violence.

Gant said she had wanted to advocate for domestic violence for many years but did not feel she had the support to do it. After meeting Blackstad, she thought it was something they could do together.

Gant herself is a survivor of domestic violence. She met her first abuser at age 18. She said the abuse started out with seclusion, he cut her off from other friends and then the physical abuse began.

Gant said she received no help or education on the subject on abuse. The only advice she ever received was to stay away from her abuser, but she found it hard to do.

Morgan Blackstad (right) and Cris Gant are pushing a grass roots effort to raise awareness about domestic violence.

“I felt conditioned into staying,” she said. “I saw the wrong in it, but I didn’t know how to get away or feel safe away from him,” she said.

Gant was eventually able to get away from one abuser but would become involved with a second abuser late in life.

“I’ve always wanted to use my story to help others,” Gant said. After finding Blackstad, she realized they could work together. Together, they created a Facebook page for Minnesota United Against Domestic Violence. The main Facebook page is a public page, but there are also two separate private pages for women and men. The separate groups are to help domestic abuse survivors feel comfortable sharing their stories.

Since the organization started, they have received messages from people reaching out for help and support. Blackstad said some of the messages are from people in the Twin Cities.

“I feel what bothers me the most about this is the lack of people talking about [domestic violence],” Blackstad said. “Change isn’t going to happen if we don’t talk about it. It won’t honor the dead or protect the living.”

Blackstad said in the short time since starting Minnesota United Against Domestic Violence, she realized many people still see domestic violence as physical abuse, but there is more to it.

She said the abuse can be financial, psychological, emotional and spiritual.

Gant said abusers often use fear to manipulate victims into staying. She said part of the fear of leaving her abuser was figuring out where she would go with her kids if she had no home.

“Statistically, it takes years for a victim to leave,” Blackstad said. “Up to seven times it can take for a victim to leave.”

There is also the real problem that the legal system is unable to protect victims from abusers.

Zimmerman, the man charged with the murder of Reinarts and Trescott, had been convicted multiple times of domestic assault but had able to plead down many of his charges to avoid prison sentences. Blackstad and Gant want to see these laws changed.

Recently, the two have submitted an online petition calling for state legislation to change sentencing and regulation for domestic violence offenders.

The petition would ask the state to prohibit plea deals that reduce accountability for domestic violence offenders.

“Domestic violence should not be considered a low-level offense, but a predictor of likely repeat offenders,” Blackstad said.

The petition also asked for laws to prosecute those who aid and abet domestic abusers.

They also want to see abusers pay restitution to their victims or victim families in the case of homicide.

The final request is the creation of a Domestic Violence Registry, similar to Tennessee’s Persistent Domestic Violence Offender Registry.

Blackstad said if these proposed changes could save one life, it would be worth it. She also hoped these actions would lead to a decrease in domestic violence cases, which she said are far too common.

In the few months since they started their advocacy work, Blackstad and Gant have spoken to nearly all local politicians with their concerns, from State Rep. Paul Torkelson and State Sen. Gary Dahms to Congressman Brad Finstad.

Blackstad said they have been persistent in demanding change and will continue to push these issues.

“It is a hard thing to chase, but it needs to be done,” Gant said.

“It is not going to bring them back, but I do hope to God it changes the future,” Blackstad said.

Minnesota United Against Domestic Violence is hosting a special bowling fundraiser on Saturday, March 21, at Concordia Lanes in New Ulm called Strike Out Domestic Violence. Attendees are invited to bowl for $5 per game, with 60% of the proceeds going to help the families of Reinarts and Trescott.

Gant said the fundraiser is designed to help the families but also to bring the community together and raise awareness.