Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News)- Thousands across New York wore purple to support survivors of domestic violence on October 18th. Vera House, a local domestic and sexual violence advocacy group, partnered with the NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence to turn Syracuse purple, encouraging people and organizations to participate in this event as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Vera House’s Director of Communications and Special Events, Chris Benton, said this year’s Purple Thursday garnered a large community reaction, with over a hundred people in Syracuse responding to Vera House’s event post on FaceBook. Benton said this shows Syracuse is ready to move forward on a serious community issue.
“I think people are ready to take charge and really want to make a difference,” said Benton. Benton, like most of the Vera House staff, was wearing purple.
NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence Executive Director Connie Neal also thinks the widespread support shown by New Yorkers on Purple Thursday shows a progressive change in the state.
“It’s a way to really pull people together,” said Neal. “It’s a simple step that they can take to really kind of move the dial forward on domestic violence issues.”
Like Vera House and Chris Benton, Neal also wore purple Thursday. She laughed and said it was just one of many purple outfits she wears during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Neal did not know how exactly many people or organizations participated in Purple Thursday, but estimates that a great number of people took part in this event today.
“I would imagine that there thousands of people across our state that are wearing purple,” said Neal. “I would say the vast majority of domestic programs across the state have some activities.”
Purple Thursday activities were not just limited to domestic violence advocates and programs across New York. In Syracuse, the hosts of Channel 9 and of CNY Central wore purple during newscasts today. Crouse Hospital, Syracuse’s National Grid building, and Syracuse University’s Hall of Languages and Hendrick’s Chapel all showed purple colors on October 18th as well.
Neal said Purple Thrusday is an easy, but still important, way to show your support during October.
“Everyone can have a role, something as simple as putting on a purple ribbon,” said Neal. “It’s a way we can all pull together and make a strong and clear statement.”
Benton said this event is meaningful to Vera House. It shows just how much the community supports the organization.
“It’s special,” said Benton. “When we see members in the community that we may not even know, but they care enough to participate, and wear purple, and join us in solidarity, and creating awareness, and supporting survivors. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that we have a supportive community behind us. Helping us in our mission to end violence in our community.”
Vera House and the NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence followed the #PurpleThursday and #DVAM2018 to track support in Syracuse and the rest of New York. Neal said social media has allowed this event to grow, and gives people visible ways to interact.
“Just to put up a picture of a whole group of folks wearing purple,” said Neal. Benton also said Vera House has seen an increase in online interaction with their social media this month.
Vera House’s next major event is a New Beginnings Gala at the start of December.
