Domestic violence awareness vigil set for Wednesday

TORRINGTON — Susan B. Anthony Project will host its annual candlelight vigil, on Wednesday at 6:30 pm at Coe Memorial Park in Torrington.

At the vigil, attendees will remember victims of domestic violence and celebrate those who have survived. The Susan B. Anthony Project will also honor community members who have collaborated with and supported its work throughout the year. Everyone is invited to come and show their support.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence is a pervasive and life-threatening crime affecting millions of individuals across our nation regardless of age, economic status, race, religion or education. Between 2000-2015, there were 222 intimate partner homicides in Connecticut, with an average of 14 per year.

In that same time frame there were 3,600 occurrences of intimate partner violence with serious or near fatal injuries, according to the 2015-2016 Findings and Recommendations of the Connecticut Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee that came out in September last year.

Last year, Susan B. Anthony Project provided safe housing for 74 women and 56 children in our shelter and transitional housing programs. Susan B. Anthony Project helped 1,818 men, women, and children in crisis. Domestic violence not only impacts victims but our entire communities. SBAP also provided prevention education programs to 4,531 school-age children, and 2,072 adult community members.

The “Clothesline Project” will be

displayed at Thomaston Public Library and Beardsley Public Library in Winsted, as well as on the Susan B. Anthony Project Facebook page www.facebook.com/sbaproject. The Clothesline Project breaks

the silence about violence against women and children by giving a voice to survivors and victims. The display features t-shirts designed by survivors of domestic violence and those who have lost loved ones to domestic violence. Please visit the Thomaston Public Library or the Beardsley Public Library throughout

the month of October to see the display.

Founded in 1983, Susan B. Anthony Project promotes safety, healing and growth for all survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and advocates for the autonomy of women and the end of interpersonal violence.

Based in Torrington, Susan B. Anthony Project

provides services, free of charge, in 20 towns in Litchfield County. Services range from a 24 hour hotline, individual counseling, support groups, court advocacy and community education.

For information about SBAP services, call the 24 hour crisis hotline at 860482-7133 or visit www.sbaproject.org .