Purple Lights mean Violence will not be Tolerated

Vashon’s streets and neighborhoods will soon be shinning purple lights to send a strong message that, ‘Domestic Violence has No Place in Our Community.’ The campaign is part of a national awareness initiative that involves businesses and residents shining a purple light bulb or string of purple lights on their front porch or front windows for the entire month of October to remember the victims and honor the survivors of domestic violence.

In the past ten years, 359 people in Washington were murdered by their abuser. Here on Vashon, there were 6 reported rapes or attempted rapes, 8 assaults, and 71 criminal incidents of ‘family issues.’ in 2010. This campaign hopes to heighten awareness and support victims of domestic violence as well as honor those who have lost their lives.

The idea for bringing Purple Light Nights came from Allison Shirk, community advocate, who wanted to do something highly visible to increase community awareness about domestic violence issues and the work of our own local DoVE Project. The DoVE Project launched this year to support domestic violence survivors and provide on-island services. At the October 3 Merchant’s Meeting, Shirk explained the idea of the Purple Light Nights and the merchants present were enthusiastic about participating.

The lights will slowly be going up across town and in neighborhoods for the month of October, which was proclaimed by Congress as the National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Supporters of the campaign can purchase a string or more of purple lights to place in your own business window for $20 per string or purchase one or more light bulbs to place on your front porch for $3 each or two for $5. Lights can be purchased at VYFS and order forms are being distributed to businesses door to door by Shirk. All proceeds will benefit the DoVE Project, sponsored by Vashon Youth and Family Services.

"I hope that all the perpetrators on Vashon see the purple lights shining on them and know that it means we are watching them, and that we will not stand for violence in our community. And for those who live where no neighbors are around, I hope you will participate too as a way to support the DoVE Project, talk to your family (especially your daughters) about violence, and tell anyone who stops by what it is about," Shirk commented.

The Purple Light Nights was started in Covington, Washington in 2007 and has since spread to 21 states in the nation as well as Canada and Guam, according to the website www.purplelightnights.org.

Other fundraisers for the DoVE Project over the next month include:

• Eve Was Framed, a comedy about misogyny at the Red Bicycle on October 21 at 8:30. Tickets are $15 to $25 sliding scale and available at VYFS, Books by the Way, and the Vashon Bookstore.

• Voices Against Violence – the White Ribbon Campaign will be at the Red Bicycle on the First Friday, November 4th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets $20 at the door or at VYFS.

• A lot Like You, honored as the best documentary film by the Montreal Film Festival, and Top Ten Audience Pick at the Seattle Film Festival, will be playing at the Vashon Theater on November 10th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets $10; $8 Students/Seniors. Planning for a reception for the Director and Producers is underway, as a plethora of Vashonites were involved in the making of the film.

The DoVE project is running on a shoe-string budget and without funding, the project will not be able to continue. For more information, or to make a donation to the DoVE Project, go to www.vyfs.org. There you can also read a report by Allison Shirk about the prevalence of domestic violence on Vashon-Maury Island.