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City Proclaims October 18th to 24th: "Week Without Violence"

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: Oct 18, 2010 at 3:38 PM MDT

Story Updated: Oct 18, 2010 at 5:19 PM MDT

This morning, the volunteers set out, tying brightly-colored reminders on everything from lamp posts to handrails to the courthouse cannon, "we feel that the more people are aware of the problem," says YWCA Mercy Home Advocate Cathy Schmerer, "the closer we're gonna get to solving a lot of the issues that are involved in domestic violence." YWCA Executive Director Autumn Frey says the aim of 'Week without Violence' is to end the cycle of abuse in all its forms, "we just wanted to get the purple out to get the awareness out, make people wonder, 'what does that signify?'"

Lacey Racine says she's knows abuse first hand and now works as a Victim-Witness Services advocate, "it's nothing to be ashamed of," she says, "it takes a while for a gal or a guy to get out of that situation. You know, sometimes it takes up to seven times, but you know, that's what we are here for."

In addition to the purple ribbons, the YWCA set up two window displays at Holiday Village Mall, one to highlight what abuse takes away from the family the other, t-shirts, decorated by children who have witness abuse in their lives. "You can read what the shirt says, and it really makes a difference," says the YWCA's Frey, "and there's also stories of some individuals that have been killed or deeply affected by domestic violence."

On Tuesday, the City of Great Falls will join 10,000 other communities in proclaiming a 'Week Without Violence,' something Mayor Michael Winters says costs individuals and the community millions of dollars a year, "we stand totally behind the awareness, we want the community to get together and report and we encourage young girls and women: don't be a victim."

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