Event to put focus on domestic violence

The Rotunda ceremony is among the many community events and activities scheduled to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

October. 1: Raygun will launch a DVIP t-shirt with proceeds to benefit DVIP. The goal is to create a visual for the viewer of the frequency and the severity of the suffering, and to encourage the general public to take a stand against domestic violence – and against the state funding cuts.

“Domestic violence doesn’t just harm our families; it affects our communities, our workplaces, our churches, our schools, ” said Dove Center trustee Ruth Weniger.

District Attorney Holley Carnright said domestic violence “is one of the few crimes where we could anticipate when and where it’s going to happen”. Dove volunteers will be selling previously loved jewelry and sharing awareness materials about healthy relationships. More details will be released at a future date. Additionally, TBI reported 2,853 domestic violence incidents in 2014 in Hamilton County. A few details are still pending; please visit the coalition’s Facebook page for the latest updates.

YWCA President & CEO Linda Baechle say “For those of us who work with victims of domestic violence the issue is foremost on our minds every single day”, Baechle adds “But October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is a time when we try to raise the level of awareness because we know that is an issue that will, in a few way, impact nearly everyone at a few point in their lives”.

“We need to stop this unnecessary violence, and the truth is, domestic violence can be stopped”. Additionally, October 22 is Purple Thursday, when wearing purple shows support for victims and a commitment to help break the silence that makes it hard for them to escape violence or access services. Partnership for Families, Children and Adults is partnering with the Family Justice Center to spread the message to the community that domestic violence is serious and can even be fatal if help is not sought.

This year’s theme is “Bystander Intervention”, with DVIP programs set to educate the public on how to shelter support, and advocate for potential or known victims of domestic abuse.