INC NEWS - Durham Domestic Violence Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 19

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy C. Blalock

Senior Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov <mailto:Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov> 

 

For Immediate Release:  December 7, 2007

 

 

Durham Honors Domestic Violence Victims in 7th Annual Memorial Tree Lighting Ceremony

Event Remembers Three Durham Victims; New Task Force To Be Announced

 

Durham, N.C. - On Wednesday, December 19, 2007, Durham residents will pause to remember the 58 victims of domestic violence who lost their lives in 2007, three of whom were Durham residents.

 

The 7th Annual Memorial Tree Lighting Ceremony Commemorating Murdered Domestic Violence Victims in North Carolina will take place in the lobby of City Hall, located at 101 City Hall Plaza, beginning at 5:30 p.m.  

 

The City of Durham's Department of Human Relations is partnering again with the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Durham Crisis Response Center, Durham Police Department's Domestic Violence Unit, Durham County Sheriff's Department Domestic Violence Unit, and City employees to host this annual event.  

 

According to Yvonne Peña, director of the City's Department of Human Relations, this annual event illustrates Durham's commitment to eradicating domestic violence.  "So many victims of domestic violence are women and children and it's vital that our community stop and remember these lives that were lost so senselessly," Peña said.  "This year, three Durham residents were domestic violence victims and that's three too many.  Domestic violence should not happen to anybody. Ever. Period. But it does - and when it does, there is help.  Our goal, in addition to remembering the lives of these victims, is to also arm others that may be living with domestic violence and abuse with a simple truth.  First, abuse is never okay; second, you are not alone. Help is yours for the asking from any of this event's partner agencies."

 

During this event, an ornament will be placed on the memorial tree that is currently in the lobby of City Hall as the name of each domestic violence victim is read aloud to represent each life lost in North Carolina.  According to Peña, the event is not just about remembering the lives lost to domestic violence.  "This annual event allows each and every Durham resident to make a renewed commitment to eradicating this senseless violence from our community.  This event will give every Durham resident the opportunity to take a stand and declare that enough is enough.  We will not lose one more woman or child to domestic violence."

 

To further illustrate the City's commitment to ending domestic violence, Peña will introduce the members of the new Mayor's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force and outline their plans to tackle and eliminate domestic violence in Durham.  "According to the Centers for Disease Control, domestic violence is a serious, preventable public health problem affecting more than 32 million Americans, or more than 10 percent of the U.S. population," Peña said.  "Therefore, we are taking a stand by announcing this new task force and its plans to tackle this problem.  We are also sending a message - domestic violence and sexual assault will not be tolerated in Durham."

 

Attendance at this event is free and Durham residents are encouraged to attend.  For more information about this event, contact Peña at (919) 560-4107 or via e-mail at yvonne.pena at durhamnc.gov. 

 

About the Department of Human Relations

The City of Durham's Department of Human Relations strives to improve race and human relations in the City by working to eliminate discrimination in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations; and by prioritizing community outreach and educational activities to meet the needs of Durham's citizens.  To learn more about this department, visit the City's Web site at www.durhamnc.gov/departments/relations. 

 

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