It was a gray day, overcast with the threat of impending rain. Tears were on the verge of falling from the sky, as well as from the faces of the group who had gathered to recognize and mourn the loss of the 15 victims of domestic violence here in North Carolina in a little over two months. It was a sad affair. They all had their reasons for coming. Some work with victims, some were victims, some were survivors. There was a judge, and at least one councilman. Many were dressed in purple. Most wore a twist of purple ribbon attached to their chests by a small brass safety pin. Pam Fulk read the poem "Remember My Name," a sad verse told from the perspective of a fatal victim, perhaps one of the four from here in Orange County. She called out the names of the victims and their attackers, and what their relationships were. She suggested we all tear a bit of our ribbons, signifying the torn lives of the family and friends of the victims who were left behind. Fulk is the executive director of the Family Violence Prevention Center here in Orange County. She has worked for women and children in the field of domestic violence for 23 years. She has seen the fear and the pain. This vigil, designed to increase public awareness of domestic violence and our society's need to end this destructive cycle, was held on the steps of the Orange County Courthouse in Hillsborough on Thursday, July 25th. at noon. In light of recent deaths in our community and all across our state, this vigil was meant to bring into focus the problem of domestic abuse. It was one of 25 occurring on this day statewide and was sponsored by the Family Violence and Rape Crisis Services, Chatham County and Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County. An individual who is in a situation involving domestic violence must feel safe leaving, or they will never leave. They must feel supported by local law enforcement, the court system, and other resource agencies such as the Family Violence Prevention Center and the Women's Center here in Orange County. No one should have to look over their shoulder every minute in fear for their lives, but the reality is that many victims do. Their lives are controlled by dangerous individuals who have caused serious damage to their victims and the people around them. Often the victims are alienated from family and friends, alone in their anguish over leaving. We must encourage these victims to stop their abusers from continuing their reigns of terror. These abusers are sick individuals in need of mental health counseling. We can help these victims who decide to end the cycle of abuse by sentencing their abusers harshly and ordering them to get help. Victims often spend years trying to change their abusers’ behavior, when ultimately they are powerless to do so. We should support people who are working to rid their lives of perpetual fear. We must enable victims to leave these damaging relationships and to regain control of their lives. We must keep these victims safe and encourage other victims to come forth and break their silence. When love turns to fear we must look beyond the shame of having tolerated it so long and realize it’s time to end the cycle. Silence can be deadly. Home | Overview | About Us | Ads | Art | Businesses | Carrboro and Area Stuff | Carrboro Map | Computer Stuff | Downtown Carrboro Map | Events | Prices | Restaurants | UniqueOrn Enterprises