The local District Attorney’s office will present its third annual Domestic Violence Awareness Parade, Walk and Rally on Saturday at 9 a.m.
District Attorney Akillie Malone-Oliver, working in conjunction with partners Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Domestic Violence Survivors, will sponsor a Domestic Violence Awareness Parade/Walk with Yolanda Turner Evans, statewide Domestic Violence Survivor-Advocate and Founder of Heavenly Help, as Grand Marshall.
A Domestic Violence Awareness Rally and Seminar will immediately follow at the Yazoo County Courthouse.
The theme of the parade/rally is “Love Shouldn’t Hurt.”
This office and its partners seek to garner attention and raise awareness of the plight of domestic violence faced by thousands of women across our nation. For far too long domestic violence has been ignored or treated as a private matter where victims suffered in silence without hope of intervention.
Statistics show that in spite of charters, conventions and other governmental declarations, globally one billion women – one of every three women – will be raped or beaten in her lifetime and one billion mothers, daughters, sisters, partners, and friends will be violated. Moreover, although women are much more likely to be victims of domestic violence, men account for 15 percent of victims, and therefore any person can be a victim.
Malone-Oliver, further states that as a result of domestic violence which crosses all socio-economic boundaries and which can happen to anyone of any race, age, ability, sexual orientation, religion, nationality or gender, our most precious resource, our children, are immensely impacted by the issues related to the plight of domestic violence.
Research indicates that 50 percent of the men who have frequently assaulted their partners are reported to, also, frequently abuse their children. Furthermore, children in homes affected by domestic violence are more likely to be abused or neglected, and even without being directly abused, children can often experience emotional or behavioral damage.
“Our goal is to educate, bring forth more awareness on this issue, and help eradicate domestic violence,” Malone-Oliver said. “Therefore, the Office of District Attorney Twenty-First Judicial District and its collaborative partners have reached out to the community in proclaiming October 2017 as Domestic Violence Awareness month in Yazoo City.”
The day’s events will culminate with a Memorial Balloon Release in remembrance of loved ones who were tragically lost due to domestic violence. The office invites the public to join them for that day.
