Domestic Violence Awareness March
MrDon
Registrant
Today I went to an event down on South Beach that was for the awareness of Domestic Violence. They had a nice program and then we marched about 5 blocks on Ocean Drive and back up the beach.
The police had the traffic stopped while we marched and I was so shocked at the reactions. Normally if anyone has to stop completely in traffic down here, the obcenities fly and the horns go. But these people today were so respectful and in fact they gave very supportive reactions. I saw many "thumbs up", heard many people clapping. Horns were honking in support. Everyone seemed to stop and stand in respect as we went by. There were probably around 400 people at this event I would guess.
But I thought as I walked along carrying my candle that the wind had blown out, that I was not only walking as a survivor myself. I was walking for my grandmother and mother who were domestic violence victims.
As I walked, I didn't feel afraid. I felt strengthened. This is the first time that I have ever publicly done something like this. Sure I tell people I know, and I talk about it in safe circles of people, but this is the first time I have publicly took a stand and said, Abuse is Wrong. Abuse is violence. IT needs to stop!
When we got to the end of the march, we put the candles on one of the "empty 250 chairs" that stood for each of the victims that died due to domestic violence in Miami Dade County during the past 5 years. Those empty chairs brought chills to me for they represented ones that weren't so fortunate to be alive and again, I thought of my mom, my grandmother.
I can only say that the afternoon event had a big impact on me. I was in tears at so many times of the event but as I looked over the crowd, I didn't see victims. I saw brave women and some men in were trying to make their lives better.
Of course the one thing that I did not like was how all of the focus was on female victims and that is one reason I went today. I wanted to show by myself being there that men were affected by this just as much. And there were other men there today which was great to see.
Anyway, I wanted to share this with everyone as it is my way of connecting all of you to this event today. And it is also my way of giving honor to my mom and to my grandmother.
May we help enlighten the rest of the world with what we have witnessed through our eyes.
Don
The police had the traffic stopped while we marched and I was so shocked at the reactions. Normally if anyone has to stop completely in traffic down here, the obcenities fly and the horns go. But these people today were so respectful and in fact they gave very supportive reactions. I saw many "thumbs up", heard many people clapping. Horns were honking in support. Everyone seemed to stop and stand in respect as we went by. There were probably around 400 people at this event I would guess.
But I thought as I walked along carrying my candle that the wind had blown out, that I was not only walking as a survivor myself. I was walking for my grandmother and mother who were domestic violence victims.
As I walked, I didn't feel afraid. I felt strengthened. This is the first time that I have ever publicly done something like this. Sure I tell people I know, and I talk about it in safe circles of people, but this is the first time I have publicly took a stand and said, Abuse is Wrong. Abuse is violence. IT needs to stop!
When we got to the end of the march, we put the candles on one of the "empty 250 chairs" that stood for each of the victims that died due to domestic violence in Miami Dade County during the past 5 years. Those empty chairs brought chills to me for they represented ones that weren't so fortunate to be alive and again, I thought of my mom, my grandmother.
I can only say that the afternoon event had a big impact on me. I was in tears at so many times of the event but as I looked over the crowd, I didn't see victims. I saw brave women and some men in were trying to make their lives better.
Of course the one thing that I did not like was how all of the focus was on female victims and that is one reason I went today. I wanted to show by myself being there that men were affected by this just as much. And there were other men there today which was great to see.
Anyway, I wanted to share this with everyone as it is my way of connecting all of you to this event today. And it is also my way of giving honor to my mom and to my grandmother.
May we help enlighten the rest of the world with what we have witnessed through our eyes.
Don