Thursday, October 26, 2006

Silent Witness Exhibit Raises Awareness of Domestic Violence

SILENT WITNESS EXHIBIT IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY

RAISES AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Exhibit showcases 200 life-size silhouettes representing domestic violence murder victims

Oklahoma City, Okla. (Oct. 19, 2006) – Imagine 200 murder victims in a room, each one telling their story. Imagine that each one died violently at the hand of someone who was supposed to love them.

That is the story told by The Silent Witness, an exhibit on display from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Leadership Square at 211 N. Robinson in downtown Oklahoma City.

The exhibit contains 200 life-sized red silhouettes representing a man, woman or child that died at the hands of their abuser. Each individual’s story is written on the front of the silhouette – a story told too late to rescue these victims, but not too late to help others in Oklahoma.

The Silent Witness exhibit tells the story for victims who no longer have a voice of their own,” said Janet L. Peery, CEO of the YWCA Oklahoma City, the only certified provider of domestic violence shelter and services in Oklahoma County. “Education is a key to survival for abuse victims – a key that can unlock the cycle of violence. By sharing these tragic stories, we hope to prevent future violence.”

“It is our goal, and sincere hope, that this exhibit will never grow to be 201 silhouettes,” continued Peery.

The Silent Witness exhibit, on loan to the YWCA Oklahoma City from the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (OCADVSA), is traveling across Oklahoma during the month of October to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This exhibit is part of a national initiative to honor individuals who were murdered by intimate partners and is maintained by OCADVSA.

About the YWCA Oklahoma City

With the mission of “Eliminating Racism & Empowering Women,” the Oklahoma City YWCA continues its century of work on behalf of women and minorities. More than 20,000 women and children in the Oklahoma City-area receive help through the Oklahoma City YWCA’s counseling, child care, transitional housing and crisis services programs, including emergency assistance for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Ongoing community outreach efforts of the YWCA Oklahoma City provide education on the issues of domestic and family violence, the empowerment of women and strategies to end racism. For more information on the Oklahoma City YWCA, visit www.ywcaokc.org.


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