Domestic Violence Awareness Month

During National Domestic Violence Month, the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in partnership with Ms. Magazine, sponsors the Remember My Name Project. This project calls for people to remember those lost to domestic violence by providing a list of victim names, including ages and dates of death, for people to see and spend a moment of silence on.

Almost 8,000 names have been added to the project, and sadly, new ones continue to be added daily. To see the list of names, add a name, or to order a memorial poster, click here.

During this month, the Coalition also suggests a number of other activities to partake in. Here are a few of those, plus others, you might want to do to stand in opposition of the violence—and to provide love and hope for the victims.

• Donate to a women and children’s shelter. Some shelters will schedule pick-ups directly from your home—all you’ll have to do is schedule them and have your things sitting outside when they arrive. They often need toiletries, pillows, blankets, clothing, and children’s items.
• Hold a candlelight vigil to honor those who have been killed by domestic abuse—and to offer hope for victims who are continually battered or trying to escape today. Get the media involved, call the local radio station, write a letter to the paper, get your church or other organization into it, and make it a big community event. Stand together and refuse to accept the violence. The Coalition suggests including dance, music, poetry, and women’s stories to make it a creative and interactive event.
• Wear a purple ribbon to raise awareness. Distribute them among your friends and family, or sell them to raise money for a shelter. The Coalition suggests giving them to police chiefs, clergy, emergency room personnel, judges and librarians to show prominent, across-the board support and awareness throughout the community.
• See if your school can host a purple shirt day in honor of saying no to violence—and hosting a talk or assembly on it as well to teach kids that they deserve to be safe—should respect others themselves—and should report it if they are being abused or know someone who is.
• Make a display with statistics, figures and always a hotline to call and ask the library, church, school and health clinic if they will let you set them up.
• Find out what your shelter needs and make a wish list. Then post the wish list everywhere you’re able—the library, beauty salons, stores, the gas station, etc.