Oleta Margaret "Lee" Abrams ( Kirk; June 12, 1927 – January 8, 2005) was one of the three founders of Bay Area Women Against Rape, the first rape crisis center in the U.S., and the first victim-witness advocate for the Alameda County district attorney's office.
She became involved after her 15-year-old daughter was raped at her high school. Abrams was appalled at the treatment her daughter received both from the school and the hospital to which she was taken. Rather than merely protest, she enlisted two friends to found the center.
Early life
Oleta Margaret Kirk was born July 12, 1927, in Bozeman, Montana, to Howard Manning Kirk, who was a geologist, and Margaret Maxey. Due to her father’s job, she and her family traveled to many places around the world such as Turkey and Haiti. with Julia Schewendinger, created the first 24-hour hot line to support rape victims and accompanied them in court when they testified against their attackers. Abrams was very dedicated to her work and eventually retired at the age of 70. She died in 2005, aged 77.