Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Today is the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Nonviolence honored the Biloxi Police Department for all their help in these violent situations.
Every minute that passes there are approximately 20 victims of domestic violence nationwide, that’s according to the Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Nonviolence. For the Gulf Coast, the number of domestic violence related deaths sky-rocketed this year. Gina McKnight, with the Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Nonviolence, said, “We’ve had four domestic violence homicides since August. While that number is startling, it’s also the numbers that you don’t see that come into our shelter every day. We really just want to raise awareness.”
Today, they went to the Biloxi Police Department placing purple ribbons on patrol cars and brought food for the department, honoring them for all their help with domestic violence situations. “Chief Miller is actually on our board, so he’s very involved with domestic violence awareness and making sure that his police officers know the gravity of it,” said McKnight, “and we really just want to thank them for everything they do in our community.”
The purple ribbons represent awareness and solidarity for both victims of domestic violence and those who have survived. Today, they were small tokens of appreciation for the long-time relationship between the Women’s Center and Biloxi Police Department.
Just last year alone, the Biloxi Police Department responded to nearly 500 domestic violence calls, something the department says is one of the most dangerous calls to respond to. Chief John Miller said, “When they identify that aggressor, you would think that they’re dealing with that aggressor and that’s where the danger is at. A lot of times, the victim can turn into the aggressor against the officer for a multitude of reasons, everything from they don’t want their spouse arrested because of financial reasons.”
Domestic violence is a complex issue and decreasing the problem is next to impossible without the help of police and an organization committed to the cause.
If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, call the Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Nonviolence 24 hour crisis line at 1-800-800-1396.
Every minute that passes there are approximately 20 victims of domestic violence nationwide, that’s according to the Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Nonviolence. For the Gulf Coast, the number of domestic violence related deaths sky-rocketed this year. Gina McKnight, with the Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Nonviolence, said, “We’ve had four domestic violence homicides since August. While that number is startling, it’s also the numbers that you don’t see that come into our shelter every day. We really just want to raise awareness.”
Today, they went to the Biloxi Police Department placing purple ribbons on patrol cars and brought food for the department, honoring them for all their help with domestic violence situations. “Chief Miller is actually on our board, so he’s very involved with domestic violence awareness and making sure that his police officers know the gravity of it,” said McKnight, “and we really just want to thank them for everything they do in our community.”
The purple ribbons represent awareness and solidarity for both victims of domestic violence and those who have survived. Today, they were small tokens of appreciation for the long-time relationship between the Women’s Center and Biloxi Police Department.
Just last year alone, the Biloxi Police Department responded to nearly 500 domestic violence calls, something the department says is one of the most dangerous calls to respond to. Chief John Miller said, “When they identify that aggressor, you would think that they’re dealing with that aggressor and that’s where the danger is at. A lot of times, the victim can turn into the aggressor against the officer for a multitude of reasons, everything from they don’t want their spouse arrested because of financial reasons.”
Domestic violence is a complex issue and decreasing the problem is next to impossible without the help of police and an organization committed to the cause.
If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, call the Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Nonviolence 24 hour crisis line at 1-800-800-1396.
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