Remembering Victims of Domestic Violence

Candles are illuminated by dozens of participants attending Monday’s annual Putnam Vigil against Domestic Violence in downtown Carmel. No one is immune: Domestic violence affects the rich as well as the poor.

On Monday evening Putnam County held its annual Vigil against Domestic Violence in downtown Carmel. Seventy-five men, women, and children gathered at the historic Putnam Courthouse where prayers were recited before a silent candle-lit processional continued to the Knights of Columbus Hall on Fair Street, where speakers addressed the gathering.

Ann Ellsworth, executive director of the Putnam Women’s Center in Mahopac told the audience: “We can never forget. Domestic violence remains a major source of violence in our country, our county, our towns, and villages. We come forward every year to remind people that domestic violence is a Putnam County crisis with new victims and new people abusing. We must stop the cycle.”

The center assisted more than 1000 victims of domestic violence last year with 2009 exceeding 2008 levels.

Putnam Assistant District Attorney Chana Kraus, who prosecutes domestic violence cases for the Adam Levy administration, agreed that public awareness was critically important: “Back in the 1990s, prior to education, domestic violence was viewed as a family matter. Victims were afraid to step forward because they feared retaliation and feared being ostracized by their community or losing their children. ”

State Senator Vincent Leibell stopped by at the vigil and called domestic violence a “sad state of affairs. Domestic violence crosses all socio-economic levels. It permeates our society each day. The good news is that peaceful demonstrations like this one in Carmel are bringing domestic violence to the forefront. Victims must come forward and seek support from law enforcement, prosecutors, and support groups. While progress is being made each year, domestic violence remains as a very serious problem within our society.”