The Big Picture: Domestic Violence Memorial Vandalized

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Domestic Violence Memorial Vandalized

A memorial display for Domestic Violence Awareness Month at a Wisconsin Women's Center has been vandalized. The display consisted of 21 full-sized purple silhouettes representing those killed in that county in domestic violence fatalities. Sometime on Sunday, a vandal or vandals snapped off one of the silhouettes at the legs. Another one was knocked over and had an arm broken off.

"I don't know if this is some horrible prank" or worse, said Mary Hennis, the director of counseling services for the Women's Center.

The worst part, Hennis said, is that someone might have been trying to frighten women at the center, or "re-victimize" the families of those killed in domestic violence incidents.

This malicious act of destruction reminds us that there are individuals in our communities who continue to think that violence is acceptable, and who want to share that message with us in a hurtful and harmful way. We stand in solidarity with our sisters in Wisconsin, and will remember them at our own domestic violence memorial on Thursday evening.

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Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is the establishment of control and fear in a relationship through physical, sexual, emotional, and/or financial abuse. Both men and women are capable of misusing power and perpetrating violence, and male victims are often just as afraid to call the police. More resources for female survivors exist, however, because overwhelmingly women and children suffer the most severe consequences (medical, legal, social, and financial) and therefore require the most intensive interventions.

Many women choose to stay in abusive relationships because they do not want their relationship to end...just the violence. Women often remain in, or return to, abusive relationships because their partners threaten to harm them and their loved ones if they attempt to leave. Commonly, women choose to leave when they become convinced that their life is at risk, or that their children are in danger.

Domestic violence is not just a "family matter". The violence will not stop until men and women come together with a common attitude of non-tolerance. We must speak out for those who may not feel safe speaking up, and our children must learn through our words and example that violence is never justified.