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Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Domestic violence is the single largest health risk to American women—over breast cancer, heart disease, automobile accidents or any other violent crime. Each year, 4.9 million women are physically or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner. In 2001, there were 26 family violence homicides in the state of Connecticut. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. The Susan B. Anthony Project, a sexual assault and domestic violence crisis center located in Torrington and servicing towns in northwestern Connecticut, will be sponsoring several events throughout the month.
On Tuesday, October 1, a clothesline was hung outside the Susan B. Anthony Project's office at 434 Prospect St. in Torrington and in other locations throughout the city to draw attention to crimes of violence against women and children. This project is part of a national campaign, which began in 1990 in Hyannis, MA, honoring the survivors, memorializing the victims, assisting in the healing process, and raising the public's awareness about these crimes and the people affected by them. On that same day, purple ribbons were attached to the trees in Torrington's Coe Park to give honor and hope to battered women and their children. During the month, you will see outreach activities all over the Northwest Corner, including the Susan B. Anthony Project’s co-sponsorship of the Women's Wellness Expo 2002 at the Torrington Armory on Saturday, October 19.
The Candlelight Vigil, held every year at Coe Park, will take place on Tuesday, October 15 at 6:30 p.m. This year we are very excited to announce that our keynote speaker will be Shirley Pierce Bostrom. Ms. Bostrom, along with her husband, Larry, is Connecticut representative for Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. In public appearances and in her book, Funny—He Doesn't Look Like a Murderer But Margaret Is Dead, Ms. Bostrom shares her family's tragedy involving domestic violence. All community members are asked to join in remembering victims of domestic violence and celebrating those who have survived.
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