[Durham INC] Durham Remembers Domestic Violence Victims Dec. 16

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov

 

For Immediate Release:  December 10, 2010

 

 

Durham Remembers Domestic Violence Victims Dec. 16

Annual Ceremony Remembers 86 Murder Victims in 2010; 

95 Organizations Statewide Joining Durham to "Shine a Light" on Family and Domestic Violence

 

DURHAM, N.C. - On Thursday, December 16, 2010, Durham residents will pause to remember the 86 victims of family and domestic violence who lost their lives in 2010 in North Carolina, including the two that were Durham County residents.

 

The City of Durham's 10th Annual Memorial Tree Lighting Ceremony in Honor of Murdered Domestic Violence Victims Across North Carolina will take place in the Council Chambers of City Hall, located at 101 City Hall Plaza, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The keynote speaker for this year's event is Jocelyn M. Bullock, mother of 2009 domestic violence homicide victim Mylin Tierra Bullock, who was only 16 years old when she was killed last year. 

 

This annual event is hosted by the City's Department of Human Relations in an effort to bring the Durham community together and renew the promise to help eradicate domestic violence. According to Yvonne Peña, director of the City of Durham's Department of Human Relations, an additional focus for this year's annual event is also to remind residents that domestic violence has more than one victim - that each victim has a mother and father, many have children and friends - and each of these people are ultimately victims too.  

 

"Many victims of family and 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, two Durham County residents were family and domestic violence victims and that's unacceptable. It's time for our society to realize that domestic and family violence is, fundamentally, a human rights violation. Family and domestic violence should not happen to anybody - ever. But it does, and when it does, there is help. Our goal, in addition to remembering the lives of these victims and their families, is to also arm others that may be living with family and domestic violence with a simple truth. First, abuse is never okay; second, you are not alone. Durham County has an extensive system in place to help and this community does not tolerate this human rights violation."

 

During this year's event, a memorial tree will be placed inside Council Chambers and will be lit bearing the names of domestic violence victims in North Carolina this year. According to Peña, the event is not just about remembering the lives lost to domestic violence. "This annual event allows each of us to make a renewed commitment to eradicating this senseless violence from our community. Our hope is that 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 person to family and domestic violence."

 

The City's event next week is one of 95 from across North Carolina to shine a light on the issue of domestic and family violence. Attendance at the City's event is free and Durham residents and the news media are encouraged to attend. For more information about this event, contact Peña at (919) 560-4107, ext. 24245 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 www.durhamnc.gov/departments/relations. 

 

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