National Domestic Violence Awareness Month noted
Assistant prosecuting attorney Freeland Oliverio, left, first assistant prosecuting attorney Angela Wypasek, commissioner Ron Amstutz, OneEighty community relations and prevention director Rhiannon Whalen-Harris, OneEighty coordinated community response specialist Gayle Byrne, commissioner Sue Smail and commissioner Becky Foster pose after the commissioners recognized the month of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month at a recent regular session.
The Wayne County commissioners recognized October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month at a recent session and asked citizens to join them in condemning domestic violence.
Commissioner Sue Smail read the proclamation: “Twenty-four people per minute are victims of domestic violence by an intimate partner in the U.S. — 12 million women and men per year.”
Nearly 75,000 victims of domestic violence seek services from shelters and programs each day across the U.S.
“We renew our commitment to support and protect victims, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent violence before it starts,” Smail said. “We strive to eliminate domestic violence in all forms to sustain the hope of a better life for victims.”
Domestic violence impacts Americans regardless of income, race, gender or socioeconomic status, and women make up a disproportionately higher number of victims.
“With all of the press recently with the Gabby Petito homicide, there is more attention drawn when victims are young and beautiful; however, it is very important to understand that there really is no particular domestic violence victim,” community response specialist Gayle Byrne said. “Our shelter right here in Wooster that services Wayne and Holmes counties is typically full.”
For additional information about OneEighty and the services provided, visit www.one-eighty.org.
Dan Starcher is a public communications specialist for the Wayne County government.