Kim Goldman

Can't Forgive: My 20-Year Battle with O.J. Simpson Kim Goldman

Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.; Don't tell her she needs to find closure. Don't ask her to forgive and forget. When Kim was just 22, her older brother, Ron Goldman, was brutally killed by O. J. Simpson. Ron and Kim were very close, and her devastation was compounded by the shocking not guilty verdict that allowed a smirking Simpson to leave as a free man. It wasn't Kim's first trauma. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she and Ron were raised by their father. Her mother kidnapped her, telling her that her father didn't love her any more. When she was 14, she was almost blinded from severe battery acid burns on her face during an automobile accident, requiring three reconstructive surgeries. But none of these early traumas compared to the loss of her brother, the painful knowledge that his killer was free, and fact that she could not even grieve privately-her grief was made painfully public. Counseled by friends, strangers, and even Oprah to find closure, Kim chose a different route. She chose to fight. Repeatedly, Kim and her family pursued Simpson by every legal means. Foiled over and over again, they ultimately achieved a small measure of justice. Kim's story is one of tragedy, but also of humanity and, often, comedy. Living life as one of America's most famous victims isn't always easy, especially as a single mother in the dating market. She often had bizarre first date experiences, with one man even breaking down into tears and inconsolable with grief after realizing who she was. Ultimately Kim's story is that of an ordinary person thrown into extraordinary circumstances at a very young age, and who had the courage-despite the discouragement of so many-to ignore the conventional wisdom and never give up her fight for justice--; Provided by publisher. Brief Description: "Don't tell her she needs to find closure. Don't ask her to forgive and forget. When Kim was just 22, her older brother, Ron Goldman, was brutally killed by O. J. Simpson. Ron and Kim were very close, and her devastation was compounded by the shocking not guilty verdict that allowed a smirking Simpson to leave as a free man. It wasn't Kim's first trauma. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she and Ron were raised by their father. Her mother kidnapped her, telling her that her father didn't love her any more. When she was 14, she was almost blinded from severe battery acid burns on her face during an automobile accident, requiring three reconstructive surgeries. But none of these early traumas compared to the loss of her brother, the painful knowledge that his killer was free, and fact that she could not even grieve privately-her grief was made painfully public. Counseled by friends, strangers, and even Oprah to "find closure," Kim chose a different route. She chose to fight. Repeatedly, Kim and her family pursued Simpson by every legal means. Foiled over and over again, they ultimately achieved a small measure of justice. Kim's story is one of tragedy, but also of humanity and, often, comedy. Living life as one of America's most famous "victims" isn't always easy, especially as a single mother in the dating market. She often had bizarre first date experiences, with one man even breaking down into tears and inconsolable with grief after realizing who she was. Ultimately Kim's story is that of an ordinary person thrown into extraordinary circumstances at a very young age, and who had the courage-despite the discouragement of so many-to ignore the conventional wisdom and never give up her fight for justice"--Biographical Note: Known nationwide as a victims rights advocate after her brother s murder in the infamous O. J. Simpson murder trial, Kim Goldman is the founding Co-Chair of The Ron Goldman Foundation for Justice. She is also the Executive Director of The Youth Project; a non-profit organization that provides free counseling, support groups, crisis intervention, and education and outreach to thousands of teenagers, since opening in 2000. In her spare time, Goldman travels the country as an impassioned public speaker on victims rights, the role of the media, judicial reform, and other related topics. She is currently a resident of Greater Los Angeles, where she has lived for ten years as a single parent. (www. KimberlyGoldman.com)"Publisher Marketing: Don t tell her she needs to find closure. Don t ask her to forgive and forget. When Kim Goldman was just 22, her older brother, Ron, was brutally killed by O. J. Simpsona horrifying event that led to one of the most public trials in American history. Ron and Kim were very close, and her devastation was compounded by the shocking not-guilty verdict that allowed a smirking Simpson to leave as a free man. Not only did Kim have to live with the painful knowledge that her brother s killer walked free, but she also struggled to keep her grief private from the media frenzy and outpouring of public opinion. Counseled by friends, strangers, and even Oprah to find closure, Kim chose a different route. She chose to fightnot just for her brother and her family, but for others, as she found her calling working with victims families in pursuit of justice and peace. From her parents devastating divorce and a life-changing car accident to living life as one of America s most famous victims and dating as a single mother, "Can t Forgive" tells of an ordinary person thrown into extraordinary circumstances at a very young age who had the couragedespite the discouragement of so manyto ignore conventional wisdom and never give up her fight for justice." Contributor Bio:  Goldman, Kim Known nationwide as a victims' rights advocate, Kim Goldman is a founding cochair of the Ron Goldman Foundation for Justice. She is also the executive director of The Youth Project, a nonprofit organization that provides free counseling, support groups, crisis intervention, and education to thousands of teenagers.