Show Support For Domestic Abuse Survivors With Purple Thursday

Upper Cumberland Family Justice Center encouraging residents to support domestic abuse survivors with Purple Thursday.

The national event is held on the third Thursday of October. The Family Justice Center’s Dasha Cross said the day helps those who have or are going through domestic abuse know they are not alone. Cross said that encouraging communities to wear the color purple encourages survivors to seek help.

“I think it’s really important for people in the community who are or have experienced domestic violence to see members of the community, especially law enforcement or any service providers, wearing purple and seeing just who all supports them,” Cross said. “Because a lot of times people experiencing domestic violence feel alone.”

Cross said that survivors seeing people in positions of power wearing purple especially makes them feel safe and encouraged to seek help. Cross said citizens seeking to support domestic abuse survivors can also show their support on social media or sharing information.

“I think it’s important because they are kinda the ones making a lot of big decisions,” Cross said. “And I think it makes a big difference people higher up in the community showing their support in that way.”

Cross said the more survivors facing domestic abuse talk about the issue, the better chance they have of finding help before something terrible happens. Cross said that domestic abuse is a year-round issue and though October may boost people seeking help, survivors always need support.

“It’s not something that people want to talk about,” Cross said. “It’s usually something that happens behind closed doors, I think having a lot of people bringing awareness to it makes it more comfortable for survivors to come forward.”