Latino Community Rallies Together Fight DV/Indiana Latino Community Rallies Together to Fight Domestic Violence
Sep 23, 2006
Members of the Latino community are taking a stand against domestic violence. Families spent the day Saturday rallying for peace at home. Community leaders want victims to know how to break a cycle of violence that can affect an entire household.
Amid the musical performances and festive atmosphere, rally organizers sent an important message to families in the Latino community; unite against domestic violence.
"Let's speak out about it. Let's not continue suffering in silence," program organizer Denise Rodriguez said.
Members of the Latino Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence put together a program to show families where they can receive help.
Community leaders say the first step is showing women and children that abusive behavior behind closed doors is wrong.
"I think just to acknowledge that it's domestic violence. That's what it is. It's very important and there are services out there that people can seek," Rodriguez said.
Organizers are teaching family members to get beyond the stigma of victimization, and showing them how to avoid the additional obstacles standing between Latino households and the help they need.
"Because of the language barrier, the culture barrier, the financial barriers, they don't know what the options are here. What are the shelters, what are the services available," program organizer Marlene Dotson said.
"There's lot of organizations trying to provide more bilingual services, but the reality of it is we don't have nearly enough," Rodriguez added.
Most of the brochures and other information are designed to inform women and children. Statistics show they are victimized most often in abusive households. But organizers say it's not enough for women to speak out against domestic violence. They insist it is vital for men to add their voices.
"We think that males need to be engaged in this dialogue, too. They are as much part of the family as women and children are, and men are victims as well," Rodriguez said.
Rally organizers say some Latino families got into the habit of accepting domestic violence before coming to the United States. Part of the coalition's goal is to help victims realize they don't have to put up with abuse at home anymore.http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5449058&nav=0Ra7
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