Monroe Residents Take a Stand Against Domestic Violence

Close to 50 people surrounded the gazebo outside Monroe Town Hall Thursday night as the names of 21 victims, who died at the hands of domestic violence in Connecticut over the past year, were read out loud. The Center for Women and Families of Eastern Fairfield County organized the candlelight vigil to raise awareness of the scourge of domestic violence.

"It was a nice turnout," Debra Greenwood, president and CEO of the center, said Friday. "We certainly had people who represented the community very well."

Among those who spoke were Monroe Police Chief John Salvatore, Det. Kelly McFarland, First Selectman Steve Vavrek, State Rep. DebraLee Hovey (R-112) and Tina of the Survivor Task Force. The Masuk High School Choir also participated in the solemn ceremony.

Speakers addressed the crowd from the top steps of the gazebo with a backdrop of T-shirts bearing messages against domestic violence. Greenwood said the shirts were created in the Clothesline Project, a national program done in Monroe for the very first time.

T-shirts with fabric markers were kept at Edith Wheeler Memorial Library for visitors to create a shirt that brings awareness of domestic violence. Greenwood said it was available for all ages, who took part in the project anonymously before dropping shirts off to be hung up on a clothesline.

During the vigil Thursday night, a bell rang every 15 seconds, representing the fact that every 15 seconds someone in the U.S. is abused, Greenwood said.

When the names of the 21 fatalities from June of 2010 to July of 2011 were read, she said their age, where they were from and how they were killed were also included, adding ages ranged from 1 to 87.

"None of them knew there was a domestic violence agency in their community where they could get free and confidential services," Greenwood said.

Those who are being abused may call the Domestic Violence Hotline at (203) 384-9559 for help.