MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and people in and around Beaufort are taking steps to put an end to domestic violence.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from the first Day of Unity observed in October 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The day was intended to connect battered women's advocates across the nation who are working to end violence against women and children.
The Day of Unity eventually became a special week when a range of activities were conducted at the local, state, and national levels. Now instead of a single day to recognize domestic violence, the month of October is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The city of Beaufort teamed up with Marine Corps Community Services and Citizens Against Domestic Abuse to do its part to assist the eradication of domestic violence from South Carolina through a candlelight vigil at the Waterfront Park Monday.
The vigil included a performance by the Parris Island Marine Corps Band, as well as guest speakers including Henry McMaster, South Carolina attorney general, and Catherine Ceips, state representative from District 124.
In her opening speech, Ceips made it clear that domestic violence was something that could not be tolerated in any community anywhere.
"There is no excuse for domestic violence, and it is something that we simply can
not have in our communities" said Ceips. "Cases of domestic violence are at critical numbers and we must remove it from South Carolina as best we can through educating people and the police force, and we are on the right road to doing that."
Throughout the event, there were speeches from women who have suffered abuse and speeches about how abuse can be averted in the future through action on both a personal and governmental level. McMaster stated that it was not only his responsibility as a government official to attack the problem from the top, but that it was also each and every person's responsibility to see that the cycle of violence is stopped before it starts.
"Domestic abuse is the number one crime problem in South Carolina, and that's something that has got to change," said McMaster. "There are lots of great people who would go to the mat to fight it [abuse], and we can do that as long as we know it will take great amounts of determination. We can make a big difference and one day instead of candlelight vigils for the victims of domestic abuse, we will be able to celebrate the absence of victims."
As part of the ceremony, Marines, abuse victims, and members of the community took turns reading biographies of women from South Carolina who died as a result of domestic violence. South Carolina is sixth in the nation for deaths as a result of domestic violence.
The evening concluded with the lighting of candles to remember those who have been a victim of domestic violence and the playing of "Taps" for those who have lost their life to domestic abuse.
Some of the steps being taken by the South Carolina government include a program obtaining prosecutors that will work at no charge to help prosecute instances of domestic abuse that will make it to the courtroom, as well as education for all age groups on how to avoid and stop instances of domestic abuse as they happen.
"One of the most important steps an induvidual can take towards ending domestic violence is to become a radical for ending domestic violence," said McMaster. " As long as people realize that no one is going to come save us and that it is a problem we must face ourselves, we can finally put an end to it."
Services available to those who are in need of either relief from abuse or those looking to help in the fight against domestic abuse include domestic abuse hotlines such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or the United States Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-865-0686. Services are also available through the World Wide Web on sites such as http://endabuse.org and www.nvdh.org.
Individuals seeking support in the Beaufort area can contact Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse at (843) 770-1070 or 1-800-868-2632, or on the World Wide Web at www.codabft.com.
Anyone in need of support can contact John Abney, Family Advocacy Representative and Prevention Specialist for MCAS Beaufort at (843) 228-6905 or (843) 228-3523.