Candlelight Vigil For Domestic Violence Awareness In Somerville

SOMERVILLE, NJ — A candlelight vigil will be held in support of the thousands of victims and survivors of Somerset County on Wednesday, Oct. 16 in Somerville.

The vigil, hosted by Safe+Sound Somerset, will be held inside the United Reformed Church at 100 West Main St. in Somerville at 7 p.m. It is held each year as October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Staff and volunteers will share courageous and inspirational stories from survivors. Leaders will discuss the ripple effects on family and friends, neighborhood and workplace and challenge others to take action.

The Somerville High School choir will also perform. There will also be a silent candlelight procession honoring those who lost their lives to domestic violence in Somerset County.

Domestic abuse is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community, irrespective of age, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, economic status or nationality. It is accompanied by a pattern of abusive behaviors that are used to gain or maintain power and control over a partner; physical violence, sexual assault, financial control, threats, intimidation, isolation and verbal abuse are some of the methods an abusive partner uses to gain control.

Some examples of abusive behaviors:

• Embarrassing or shaming the victim with insults or mockery.
• Controlling who the victim sees or talks to, where they go and what they do.
• Keeping the victim away from friends and family members.
• Intimidating victims with weapons or physical restraints.
• Threatening to hurt or kill the victim, family, friends, children or pets.
• Pressuring or forcing sexual actions and refusing to use protection.
• Pressuring or forcing the use of drugs or alcohol.
• Destroying property.
• Harassing the victim at the workplace.
• Stalking.

For more information on Safe+Sound Somerset visit resourcecenterofsomerset.org. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text the Safe+Sound 24-hour, confidential hotline at 866-685-1122.

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