Candlelight vigil honors victims of domestic violence

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Participants release balloons at Thursday’s candlelight vigil for domestic violence. The vigil was held as a part of National Domestic Violence Month. Latasha Everson/The Tifton Gazette
Participants gather with their lit candles for a moment of silence in honor of the victims of domestic violence. Latasha Everson/The Tifton Gazette

October 18, 2012

Candlelight vigil honors victims of domestic violence

Latasha Everson/The Tifton Gazette CNHI The Tifton Gazette Thu Oct 18, 2012, 09:42 PM EDT

TIFTON — Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House hosted a candlelight vigil late Thursday afternoon on the Tift County Courthouse lawn to commemorate National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

A crowd of locals, including Tifton police officers with the Crime Suppression Unit, gathered together in a circle with a candle in their hands to remember those who have lost their lives to domestic violence, as well as to support those who are survivors.

According to Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House, “Domestic Violence Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to reflect as a community on what we can do to help stop the violence and resolve to support peace in our families.”

After Sonia V. Harper, executive director of Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House, welcomed everyone, she made two special announcements. She and Pam Howard, development director of Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House, recognized and presented Elizabeth Knight with the 2012 Advocate of the Year Award for being a domestic violence advocate for Ruth’s Cottage and Rob Walker with the 2012 J. Harvey Davis Award for being very supportive of the two organizations.

During the vigil, Harper explained that The Patticake House, a children’s advocacy center, assists children who are victims of abuse. Also, she stated that Ruth’s Cottage is a domestic violence prevention and intervention program serving the five-county region of Tift, Turner, Irwin, Ben Hill and Worth counties. According to their website, the program provides an array of free-of-charge, confidential services which include safe shelter, support and education groups, relocation assistance, individual and group support, legal advocacy assisting in temporary protective orders and stalking orders, as well as referrals to other specialized services.

Harper stated, “We try to take care of the issues that victims face from beginning to end.”

She noted that they still communicate with some women who have left the shelter.

Harper further explained that domestic violence is not something that just occurs behind closed doors. She noted that 87 percent of women who were killed in the workplace in 2011 were killed by their abuser. She stated that domestic violence is known as the biggest human rights crisis, which means that it will affect the next generation in the hardest way.

“We know it affects our children” Harper said. “As a community, we know Tifton loves its kids.”

She stated that there are many ways to define why a woman stays in an abusive relationship. She told the crowd, “Come along with us with compassion for those children in that situation.”

Also, Harper noted that domestic violence is now huge in teen dating.

“Let’s come together to say we won’t tolerate it in our community, most certainly not with our children,” she said.

She added, “Ruth’s Cottage and The Patticake House are here to serve.”

As the crowd stood with their candles lit, Harper stated that 64 victims in 2011 lost their lives to domestic violence in the state of Georgia; two were from the Tifton area.

At the end of the vigil, a cloud of 64 purple balloons, representing the 64 victims, were released into the air. Attendees also enjoyed refreshments provided by the 20th Century Library Club and the Tifton Junior Women’s Club.

To contact reporter Latasha Everson, call 382-4321.

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