martes, 8 de octubre de 2013

Martel family attends domestic violence vigil on Taunton Green - Taunton Daily Gazette

A solemn vigil attended by members of Jennifer Martel's family was held on the Taunton Green on Monday night, with participants wearing purple ribbons, carrying purple balloons and holding candles to draw attention to the issue of domestic violence.

The twilight ceremony at the center of the city drew more than 15 members of the Martel family, who wore white T-shirts with her picture on it, with the words "Victim of Domestic Violence" written underneath. About 20 others from the community attended to support the event, the 11th annual Candlelight Vigil Against Domestic Violence, organized by the Taunton-based Southeastern Massachusetts Voices Against Violence.

"We do this every year because are desensitized as a country," said Annemarie Matulis, executive director of SEM-VAV. "We see the horror of domestic violence, murder, suicide, cases with kids involved. … After it's on the news, it goes away in 10 seconds. Everyone seems to think this public issue has been taken care of, and it hasn't."

Matulis — who talked to the crowd about the abuse she suffered during a "brutal 18-year marriage" that she escaped from 31 years ago by "God's amazing grace" — told the crowd that domestic violence is a "silent" problem that leads to murder far too often. Matulis said after becoming a domestic violence victim advocate decades ago, and founding SEM-VAV in 2003, she is surprised that the issue still remains such a huge societal problem.

"I never thought 31 years ago I'd still be standing here because of another brutal murder in the name of love," Matulis said. "Domestic violence is a family thing. It's a societal problem. I don't think we can blame movies and the television. We have to break that silence."

Matulis said domestic violence, like suicide, is preventable. She said it's important to begin teaching members of the community from an early age to intervene in abusive situations and break the cycle of violence. Matulis explained that all too often children in elementary and middle schools have displayed abusive and violent behavior that has been learned from domestic violence at home.

State Rep. Shaunna O'Connell, who has previously spoken about abusive relationships during her adolescence, assured the crowd that Martel will not be forgotten and action will be taken in her memory to save other people.

"Our hearts, our prayers and our thoughts go out to the Martel family," O'Connell said. "They have been through a tragedy that they cannot walk away from. They can't just change the channel and make it go away, because they are deeply affected by this and they will have to live forever with the tragic death of their daughter."

Martel, a Taunton High School graduate, was stabbed to death on Aug. 15 and is survived by a 5-year-old daughter. Jared Remy, father of Martel's child, is the son of Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Remy. He was arrested and charged with murdering Martel.

Matulis said the annual vigil started as Taunton's observation of the national Day of Unity against domestic violence, which started in the 1980s.

Earlier in the day, SEM-VAV hosted the nonprofit New Hope for a display of "The Clothesline Project" on Church Green at the First Parish Church. New Hope maintains a Clothesline Project display that features T-shirts and other garments with personal messages written by victims about their experience with domestic violence. New Hope is based in Worcester and helps victims of domestic violence throughout Southeastern and Central Massachusetts New Hope.

One of the shirts has a message that said, "Where is the justice?" while another said, "Mom let him back in and I'm on the run." Another white shirt says in blue and red writing, "This is a message from someone who cares. Don't be isolated and go and tell someone about your fears."

Matulis said that the display originated with a group of women on Cape Cod who started the project, to bring the issue of violence against women to the forefront.

"It's all about hanging out your dirty laundry in the public, and breaking the silence," Matulis said.
Back at the vigil, SEM-VAV volunteer Deb Brown said that it seems like ever year there is another domestic violence tragedy that draws the attention of the media. Brown said she wishes every tragedy drew as much attention as high-profile cases, but she said SEM-VAV is here to support all victims and their families.

"The biggest tragedy is the cases that go undocumented, the people who don't have a voice," Brown said. "That's what the Voices Against Violence is all about. Those who aren't here this year, please join us next year. One walk at a time, one voice at a time, and we'll bring an end to this senseless violence."

Contact Marc Larocque at mlarocque@tauntongazette.com.

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