Every year, during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Cherokee Family Violence Center puts together a candlelight vigil to honor those who have been affected by domestic violence. This includes victims, survivors, and advocates. This amazing vigil was this past Tuesday and I had the honor of attending.
It was extremely moving as well as personally healing.
Although we emphasize awareness during October, it is as one of the speakers said, domestic violence needs to be talked about all year, not just one month! Domestic violence is a COMMUNITY ISSUE, not an individual's issue that can't be talked about. If you don't think it's a community issue, check out these statistics shared at the vigil:
In 2012,
3635 Domestic violence calls were made to 911
1052 calls were made to hotlines
62 Georgians lost their lives to domestic violence
3 Cherokee County women lost their lives to DV
How are these numbers not a community issue? Three women in one county of one state lost their lives this past year! We need to spread awareness and make sure victims know it's not their fault!
Candles were lit to honor those we have tragically lost at the hands of an intimate partner.
These flags were placed with purple ribbons to represent the 62 Georgians who lost their lives.
*Picture from Cherokee Tribune
Cutout silhouettes were set up to honor those who had lost their battle in domestic violence. The 3 victims from this last year in the forefront.
*Picture from Cherokee Tribune
Shannon's silhouette still stood; over one year later and the pain of seeing a cutout with her name on it still hurts on such a deep level.
Throughout the vigil, many spoke of their journey through domestic violence and the strength they found to get help and get safe. Moving poems, speeches, personal stories were all shared in an attempt to share stories and spread awareness.
One speaker shared her story of how her abuse started with emotional abuse and control. She began isolating from friends and family, fearful of the confrontation that would come if she went against her abuser. Eventually, he began to hit her, even causing her blindness in one eye. She found strength and left, pressed charges, and her abuser is now in jail. Her story was so healing for me to hear. I can't pinpoint what it was but it really hit home. She is so strong.
*Picture from Cherokee Tribune
Shannon Wallace, district attorney elect, said it best when she stated that "domestic violence is not an inevitable crime." As she encouraged those there who had lost a loved one to share our experiences and let others learn from our sorrow, she also made sure the crowd new that DV is preventable and that each person can make a difference.
This year was the first year CFVC ran out of candles! There were more people than candles, showing how much awareness has already grown. Lets make sure we fill downtown Canton with purple next year! There is no reason awareness should stop you. Sharing a link is so easy! Let's get it out there.
We are the future of a domestic free community, but we have to fight for it!
For the full article from Cherokee Tribune, see the following link:
http://cherokeetribune.com/view/full_story/20590595/article-Vigil-honors-victims--supports-survivors-of-domestic-violence?instance=secondary_story_bullets_left_column
Visit CFVC on their website and on FaceBook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cherokee-Family-Violence-Center/139531269338
www.cfvc.org
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