Photo Courtesy of Queens Museum
The Big Apple kicked off Domestic Violence Awareness Month last Thursday with “NYC Go Purple Day.”
By Forum Staff
Mayor Bill de Blasio last Thursday announced that the City will host programming throughout the month designed to raise awareness around domestic violence and the resources available to victims, survivors, and their children.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
“No New Yorker should feel unsafe, especially within their own home and surrounded by the people they love. That’s why we’re raising awareness about healthy relationships and the resources available to those who find themselves in unhealthy or abusive situations,” de Blasio said. “Since we opened the doors to the Staten Island Family Justice Center earlier this year, I’m proud to say that every New Yorker – regardless of age, race, language, gender or sexual identity or immigration status – can walk into a center in their own borough to receive critical services, from legal counseling to housing assistance.”
De Blasio kicked off the month last Thursday with help from his wife, First Lady Chirlane McCray, and Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence Commissioner Cecile Noel, who joined him for “NYC Go Purple Day.” To mark the annual day of awareness, buildings and landmarks across the city were lit up in purple, including City Hall, 1 Police Plaza, the Yankee Stadium Jumbotron, all five borough halls, the Queens Museum, and the Parachute Jump at Coney Island. All City agencies were encouraged to participate by asking their employees to wear purple and to post on social media with the hashtag #NYCGoPurple. NYPD precincts also decorated their buildings and cars with purple banners and ribbons.
“’NYC Go Purple Day’ is a day for hope, when we see elected officials, City agencies, and New Yorkers across the city come together to bring domestic violence out of the shadows. We know that domestic violence can affect anyone, and this Administration is committed to doing all that we can to help New Yorkers leave their abusers and rebuild their lives,” said Herminia Palacio, deputy mayor for Health and Human Services. “Thank you to everyone who is out there today making sure that the people of our city know the many vital domestic violence resources available to them. The more we all know, the more we are able to help those around us find the help they need.”
Among the series of domestic violence-related events taking place in the city throughout the month of October two are set for Queens:
- Friday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m.: The Queens Family Justice Center will host a full-day medical services/client and partner appreciation fair with offerings that include mobile testing, a client appreciation luncheon, and a domestic violence presentation for hospital and clinic staff in Queens. A Community Healthcare Network Mobile Van will offer primary care health services as well as PrEP and PEP (HIV care) services, HIV testing and treatment, STI testing and treatment, condoms, emergency contraception (Plan B), birth control, pregnancy testing and counseling, mental health care, breast self-exams, and referrals for mammograms.
- Thursday, Oct. 27 at 10:30 a.m.: The Queens Family Justice Center, in coordination with the Borough President’s Office, is organizing an event featuring male speakers to engage and empower men around the issue of intimate partner violence. This event will welcome men of all ages to join the conversation on intimate partner violence with an emphasis on engaging younger men.
For a full list of events, OCDV has created the NYC Domestic Violence Awareness Month Calendar, which can be accessed here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/ocdv/html/events/events.shtml.
