Survivors & Advocates Unite In Fremont Walk For Domestic Violence Awareness

India-West Staff Reporter

FREMONT, CA —Community members gathered on October 8, here, for the Annual Candlelight Vigil to honor victims and survivors of domestic violence and to raise awareness about prevention and healing during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The event was co-organized by Maitri, Narika, Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments, and the North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused, in partnership with the Fremont Human Relations Commission. Advocates, service providers, survivors, city officials, and residents from across the Bay Area attended.

It began with a community walk, where participants carried posters with messages calling for an end to domestic violence. Following the walk, survivors, advocates, and community leaders shared powerful stories of endurance, healing, and hope, highlighting both the strength it takes to rebuild after abuse and the importance of community support in breaking the stigma.

The vigil also featured a program of dance, music, poetry, and art, reflecting the pain of loss, the resilience of survival, and hope for a future without violence. The event concluded with a candlelight vigil and a collective pledge to stand with survivors and work together to end domestic violence.

The need for awareness and action remains critical, organizers said, noting that the National Network to End Domestic Violence, on a single day, September 4, has reported that 2024, 79,088 survivors received services from U.S. domestic violence programs, while 14,095 requests for help went unmet due to lack of resources.

Maitri is a free, confidential nonprofit organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area that primarily supports individuals and families from South Asia: www.maitri.org. For more information or to get help, visit www.narika.org, save-dv.org, or asknisa.org.