City of Milwaukee Hosts 2nd Annual Love Without Violence Conference during Domestic Violence Awareness Month

MILWAUKEE – The City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention and Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault is calling on all Milwaukee area residents to wear purple on Purple Thursday, October 15, 2020 to stand in solidarity with local survivors and to honor the lives lost to domestic violence. The effort is part of the annual Domestic Violence Awareness month in Milwaukee. Several buildings in Milwaukee will shine purple in solidarity including, Milwaukee City Hall, the Wisconsin Center, Mitchell International Airport, the Pfister Hotel, and other local businesses and organizations.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved from a national “Day of Unity” held in October 1981 through the National Coalition against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who work to end intimate partner violence. Locally, Mayor Tom Barrett, the Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, along with local organizations stand together to:

• Honor those who have lost lives because of domestic violence
• Celebrate those who have survived
• Increase community awareness of resources and services
• Educate on all forms of domestic violence and warning signs

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month we will host the 2nd Annual Love without Violence Conference October 14-16th! This year’s conference will be a virtual event that can be accessed through Zoom conference and Facebook live on the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Violence Prevention page. The virtual format will allow for more survivors and advocates to attend this critical conference.

The conference will feature three days of dynamic speakers and compelling conversations of the realities of domestic violence. We will bring together survivors, advocates, and organizations working in the area of family violence to educate, mobilize and raise awareness to support efforts to prevent domestic and intimate partner violence in our community. Equity will be a central theme of this years conference looking at the systemic factors that perpetuate violence including  racism, patriarchy, and sexism.

We join our national allies in emphasizing a call to action to bring not only awareness to the issue but demand action to break the cycle. We ask everyone to commit to doing at least 1 thing to help prevent Domestic Violence through awareness, advocacy, or posting a stat on social media using the hashtag #DVAMMKE. By taking a stand, we intend to remind the nation that there are still countless people impacted by domestic violence including survivors, their children, families, friends and the community. Locally, we ask every individual, employer, and organization to wear purple on Purple Thursday as a show of support for survivors. Through the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) and the Commission on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, the city remains committed to raising awareness of this issue and engaging all segments of our community in putting an end to domestic violence.

To register for virtual Love Without Violence Conference: https://2ndannuallovewithoutviolence2020.eventbrite.com

For immediate support or shelter please call:

Impact 211

Domestic Violence Lifeline: 414-933-2722

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.