The Purple Ribbon
Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October, 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
The intent was to connect battered women’s advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children.
The Day of Unity soon became a special week when a range of activities were conducted at the local, state, and national levels.
These activities were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes:
Mourning those who have died because of domestic violence, celebrating those who have survived, and connecting those who work to end violence.
In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year the first national toll-free hotline was begun.In 1989 the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month Commemorative Legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort.
In October 1994 NCADV, in conjunction with Ms. Magazine,created the “Remember My Name” project, a national registry to increase public awareness of domestic violence deaths. Since then, NCADV has been collecting information on women who have been killed by an intimate partner and produces a poster each October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, listing the names of those documented in that year.
It was sad for me to learn that on July 14, 2011, the day that the poster was made they ran out of space. The poster holds 500 names. That means in one year there were over 500 women killed from domestic violence.
The Day of Unity is celebrated the first Monday in October of every year. I sincerely hope that events in every community across the fifty states will culminate in a powerful statement celebrating the strength of battered women and their children.
Purple Ribbons are made as pins sold at local events… they’re embroidered on hats, bags and t-shirts by those who are passionate about ending the violence …
They are tied to antennas of cars, they’re hung on doors, wrapped around trees and fences especially at the scene of a crime.
In addition to the demonstration of support for victim and advocates, the display of purple ribbons throughout a community conveys a powerful message.
There’s no place for domestic violence in the homes, neighborhoods, work places or schools. There has been a great job of getting corporations involved with a lot of coverage for breast cancer where airlines wear pink buttons, football players wears pink which is the same month as Domestic Violence
I commend all the people who raise the awareness of BREAST cancer
BUT
it is time for the NFL LEAGUE to start to wear PURPLE to bring awareness to domestic violence.
Domestic Violence is a DISEASE and there have been many families that have lost loved ones from this disease.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS REAL.