An annual campaign is once again hoping to shine a light – a purple light – on the issue of domestic violence.
The Purple Light Nights campaign returns to New Westminster from April 8 to 22, coinciding with Prevention of Violence Against Women Week, which runs from April 15 to 21. During the campaign, people are encouraged to post purple lights at their homes or businesses and wear purple wrist bands – as purple is the colour symbolic of domestic violence.
The campaign, launched by the Covington Domestic Violence Task Force in King County, Washington in 2007, seeks to help people remember victims who lost their lives to domestic violence, support those who have survived domestic violence and provide hope for those still living with abuse.
Monarch Place, a transition house for women and children fleeing violence, organizes the local event.
“We feel it is extremely important for people to recognize that abuse against women is prevalent in our society today, and that by bringing it out in to the open like this hopefully it will help one person or save one person that might not otherwise know about it or equip people with knowledge about what is happening,” said Susan Stephen, administrative coordinator at Monarch Place.
While the #MeToo movement has generated a lot of publicity about the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment against women, Stephen said many people may not realize the depth of the issue of violence against women.
People are invited to attend a Purple Light Nights vigil taking place on Monday, April 16 at 5:15 p.m. at New Westminster City Hall.
“I would love to see community members coming out to join us and to ask questions and make themselves more aware about what is going on,” Stephen said.
Local businesses and residents wanting to support the campaign can buy wrist bands and purple lights at Greens and Beans Deli (143 East Columbia St.), Dynamic Fitness at the Shops at New West Station (335 – 800 Carnarvon St.) or through Monarch Place (604-521-1888). A string of lights is $20 or a single bulb is $5.
More information about Purple Lights Night is available at www.facebook.com/purplelightnights.
