‘Break the cycle’: Vigil remembers victims of domestic violence
Pastor Belton Mobley of Diamond Street Christian Church offers a prayer during the Every1 Knows Some1 domestic violence awareness month event at the YWCA Northcentral Pa Thursday evening in Williamsport. Domestic violence survivors spoke about their stories to a large crowd at the YWCA during the evening event. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Law enforcement lights candles at empty places for people who lost their lives due to domestic violence during The Every1 Knows Some1 domestic violence awareness month event at the YWCA Northcentral Pa Thursday evening in Williamsport. Domestic violence survivors spoke about their stories to a large crowd at the YWCA during the evening event. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Empty dinner placements in honor of people who died as a result of domestic violence at the end of The Every1 Knows Some1 domestic violence awareness month event at the YWCA Northcentral Pa Thursday evening in Williamsport. Domestic violence survivors spoke about their stories to a large crowd at the YWCA during the evening event. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Empty dinner placements in honor of people who died as a result of domestic violence at the end of The Every1 Knows Some1 domestic violence awareness month event at the YWCA Northcentral Pa Thursday evening in Williamsport. Domestic violence survivors spoke about their stories to a large crowd at the YWCA during the evening event. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Pastor Belton Mobley of Diamond Street Christian Church offers a prayer during the Every1 Knows Some1 domestic violence awareness month event at the YWCA Northcentral Pa Thursday evening in Williamsport. Domestic violence survivors spoke about their stories to a large crowd at the YWCA during the evening event. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Law enforcement lights candles at empty places for people who lost their lives due to domestic violence during The Every1 Knows Some1 domestic violence awareness month event at the YWCA Northcentral Pa Thursday evening in Williamsport. Domestic violence survivors spoke about their stories to a large crowd at the YWCA during the evening event. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Empty dinner placements in honor of people who died as a result of domestic violence at the end of The Every1 Knows Some1 domestic violence awareness month event at the YWCA Northcentral Pa Thursday evening in Williamsport. Domestic violence survivors spoke about their stories to a large crowd at the YWCA during the evening event. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Empty dinner placements in honor of people who died as a result of domestic violence at the end of The Every1 Knows Some1 domestic violence awareness month event at the YWCA Northcentral Pa Thursday evening in Williamsport. Domestic violence survivors spoke about their stories to a large crowd at the YWCA during the evening event. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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The table was set for 20.
Candles were lit as, one by one, stories were read of how the people who should have been seated at that table had lost their lives at the hands of their abusers.
Those attending the YWCA Northcentral PA vigil for Domestic Awareness heard horrific stories of abuse, but also hopeful words of the work being done by staff at the Y's Wise Options program.
"Over the last year, we supported 1,552 victims of domestic violence, including men, women and children of all ages," said Amber Morningstar, YWCA program director.
One in four women and one in seven men will be or have been a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime, Morningstar noted.
"One in 15 children witnessed domestic violence within their own homes -- the one place they are supposed to feel the safest," she said.
"That is why we joined tonight in solidarity to stand against the evils of domestic violence, and to provide a sense of hope and support for those who may be suffering in silence," Morningstar said.
As the guest speaker for the event held at the YWCA, Judge Eric R. Linhardt stressed that everyone aims to make a positive impact on the number of domestic violence incidents in the community, but that it's important to do more than "pay lip service."
"It needs to be a goal to be achieved, so how do we get there," Linhardt said.
Research has shown that witnessing violence between caretakers is the strongest risk factor for teaching violence to the next generation, Linhardt said.
"More than 3 million children witness violence in their homes every year. That's a terrifyingly large pool of potential abusers," he said.
"Hopefully, by educating those children, by prosecuting those abusers, we can break the cycle of violence and the cycle of learned behavior," Linhardt said.
Stressing that domestic violence is not limited to a certain gender, race, economic status or region of the country, Linhardt noted that the Centers for Disease Control estimates that as many as 40% of the victims of severe domestic violence are men.
The effect on children is not limited to putting them at risk of becoming abusers, he said, but many times their lives are upended when moms move to domestic violence shelters or are injured and unable to care for them. In extreme cases, children can become the victims.
Of all the incidents of domestic violence that are handled by Wise Options, Linhardt admitted that "we only see a fraction of these cases come through the court."
'There are many reasons for that -- economic realities, the power and control of the abuser, safety concerns. And, there is the fact that domestic violence isn't always physical, but the emotional and psychological abuse can be just as debilitating," he said.
During his time as district attorney, Linhardt shared that many victims spoke of the long-term psychological effects of domestic violence, as opposed to physical harm, which would heal in a shorter time.
"Domestic violence victims typically pay an extra $5,000 in medical costs each year," Linhardt said.
As a former district attorney and now as a judge, Linhardt said that he struggles with how "the justice system continues to fail survivors of domestic violence."
"We must be honest about what we do, but we also must be honest about what we can do better," he said.
"As judges, we have busy schedules. Sometimes we forget to take time to be supportive, to listen, to give time to victims to be heard, to answer questions, to help navigate the legal process that is often unfamiliar and intimidating," he said.
"We never want to hear a victim say, 'I asked for help and no one would help me, not the police, not the court, not the court staff, not the judge," he added.
The possibility that victims can face further abuse or retaliation from their abuser "because they dared to speak up is a failure that reflects on all of us," Linhardt said.
"That's why I am so proud that I am working now to ensure that our court works closely with our advocates at Wise Options and our law enforcement to ensure that we are all well-trained to be supportive of victims and sensitive to the trauma that they have suffered," he said.
Morningstar said that the theme of Domestic Violence Awareness Month this year is "Every 1 Knows Some 1" referring to the fact that domestic violence has touched everyone in some way.
"As you go about your life, please promise yourself that you will always speak up against domestic violence. Support and believe survivors and never suffer in silence," Morningstar said.
Anyone experiencing abuse or aware of another person being abused is encouraged to call the Wise Options 24/7 hotline at 1-800-326-8483 for free and confidential services.