DA’s office observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By JACOB LOPEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and in observance of which, the office of Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz is distributing purple label ribbons and bumper stickers.

They are also putting up Survivors Speak displays at the Cameron County Courthouse in Brownsville (The Dancy Building) and the Joe G. Rivera and Aurora De La Garza Annex Building in San Benito. Survivors Speak consists of actual statements from survivors of domestic violence on display at the aforementioned buildings.

At 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, the DA’s office will also hold its Petals on the Lake event at Dean Porter Park in Brownsville. Immediately following, the DA’s office will open its Break the Silence Exhibit from 6-8 p.m. at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts, which features high school art, poetry and an awards ceremony.

“Domestic violence is a significant issue for our office,” said Melissa Landín, public information officer for the DA’s office. “[Domestic violence cases] represent a large number of our caseload.”

Landín added, “Not only do we want to be prosecuting these cases to the fullest extent, but we also want to work on prevention and awareness.”

In a statement, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) said, “During this year’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Americans should join together in rededicating ourselves to eradicating domestic violence from our society.”

“The domestic violence cases within the National Football League have begun a national conversation and we should use this conversation to focus on ensuring all victims of domestic violence get the services they need and we must continue to promote strategies that can prevent domestic violence,” he said.

Hinojosa further added, “House Democrats’ Middle Class Jumpstart agenda calls for strengthening VAWA further and making increased investments in shelters and other life-saving domestic violence services. As we mark Domestic Violence Awareness month, let us stand together as one nation and proclaim zero tolerance for domestic violence and work to end it in our society.”