Blood red, the life-size wooden cutouts bear shields describing victims of domestic violence, complete with their names and the ways in which they were murdered.
These “Silent Witnesses” are part of a Domestic Violence Awareness Month exhibit made in memory of women killed by domestic violence. The exhibit will be displayed Tuesday in the Hult Center lobby from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Sponsored by Womenspace, the exhibit is dedicated to raising awareness about violence in Lane County and focuses on educating people about how to make the community safer.
“It’s a chance for the community to come together,” Womenspace employee Margo Schaefer said. “It’s a very powerful exhibit, and we want to create a picture of women who are living with domestic violence.”
Part of the Womenspace message is not just to remember those victims, but to recognize that there is an outlet for women and families currently in abusive relationships
“For every one of the women killed, there are dozens, if not thousands, of women who leave those abusive relationships, and we also want to honor them,” Schaefer said.
University Women’s Center office coordinator Lori Brown said programs such as the Silent Witness vigil make domestic violence real or personal for those who haven’t lived through it and encourage people to act as allies.
“Many victims of partner violence feel they are alone in their situation,” Brown said. “When we honor victims and survivors of partner violence with these events, we validate their experiences and show them that there are members of their community that are influential in their well-being.”
In addition to validating the experiences of women who have escaped from abusive relationships, the event is intended to spread the message of support to those women who remain in violent relationships.
“And we want to remind women who are still in those relationships that aren’t planning to leave right away or at all that we still have services for them,” Schaefer said.
These services include a shelter for women and children, a crisis line, community outreach and education and two clinics — a domestic violence legal aid clinic and an advocacy drop-in clinic located at 111 E. 16th St.
“The best part of the job is when we see a family get safe and the children not be afraid,” Schaefer said. “People are open to the message when we get out there, but we need more volunteers.”
Coinciding with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Womenspace is also beginning fall training for volunteers Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The day will consist of anti-oppression training and a segment on the effects of domestic violence on children. Womenspace Volunteer Program Coordinator Nancy Hafner said the training will also cover violence on minority women or women with disabilities.
For information about the vigil, call Womenspace at 485-8232. To volunteer, call 485-7262.