Evanston Campaign to Raise Awareness for Domestic Violence Month
The month of October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness month all over the United States. Events of remembrance and advocacy are held on various dates throughout October. Domestic Violence Awareness month was first observed in 1987. This year, the Evanston Police Department’s Victim Services Unit is partnering with the Evanston/Northshore YWCA and the Zonta Club of Evanston to bring awareness to Domestic Violence with The Domestic Violence Tears Project.
The Tears Project represents the requests for service made to the Evanston Police Department during 2010. One tear for each request will be displayed in the Evanston community as a symbol. The purple tears signify crime-related cases (domestic battery, domestic assault, etc.) reported to the Evanston Police Department. The blue tears represent non-crime related cases of domestic violence reported to the Evanston Police Department. In 2010, there were 551 crime related cases and 538 non-crime related cases.
Many instances of domestic violence go unreported to law enforcement and are therefore unable to be recorded statistically. In total 1,089 tears are being displayed in the Evanston Community to bring attention to Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Please look for the displays at the Civic Center, Evanston Police Department, Evanston/Northshore YWCA, and the main branch of the Library.
If you or someone you know is being abused please contact the Evanston/Northshore crisis line at: (877) 718-1868, the Illinois Domestic Violence Helpline at: (877) 863-6338 or the Evanston Police Department’s Victim Services Unit at: 847-866-5015.
Find out more information
about Domestic Violence Awareness Month here: http://dvam.vawnet.org/