Letter - Take a stand against violence

To the editor:

We invite readers to take a stand against domestic violence. October has been designated National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Someplace Safe along with United Communities Advocating Non-Violence and Wings will be sponsoring two events. Please join us on October 19 for our Taking Steps Against Domestic Violence Awareness Walk, which will begin at 5 p.m. at the Douglas County Courthouse and features Phyllis Michaels as our guest speaker. Our second event is our Domestic Abuse Awareness Luncheon, which will be held at Arrowwood Conference Center from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on October 20. Our speaker will be Cheryl Thomas from The Advocates for Human Rights.

Domestic violence is a problem that is too often kept quiet, or ends with devastating results. The human cost is staggering. Thus far in 2010, 12 women, two children and four adults have lost their lives in domestic-violence-related homicides in the state of Minnesota according to the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women. Our community’s response is critical both for the victims’ safety and perpetrator accountability. All persons must be provided protection and given the support necessary to improve their circumstances.

Ending domestic violence takes neighbors, business owners and faith communities willing to get involved. It takes families, friends, and co-workers saying, “We will do what it takes to stop the cycle of violence and abuse.” Please join our efforts to stop the violence and to provide safety and justice for everyone. By assuring that each individual is valued and supported, we may be able to stop, or at least interrupt, the intergenerational cycle of abuse, neglect and violence. Let’s do it for all who have lost their lives due to domestic violence.

Please join us next week to show your support for ending domestic violence in Douglas County.

Susan Keehn,

Someplace Safe

Douglas County

Advocate

Alexandria, MN

Tags: opinion, letters, keehn