Candlelight Vigil for Windham Woman Friday

October 10, 2018

Windham community members are mourning the tragic murder of a 27-year-old woman and will hold a candlelight vigil in Jillson Square this Friday.
 
The vigil will start at 5:30 p.m. to honor the victim, Angela Martinez-Acevedo, who was strangled in her home and leaves behind her 12 year old daughter and 7 year old son.
 
The Windham Task Force to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect and Windham Cares Inc. are organizing the vigil. 
 
On our WILI Friday at 5 show “Let’s Talk About It,” my co-host Dennis O’Brien and our guests Catina Caban-Owen and Yolanda Negron  will discuss the terror families live in when subjected to family violence and what they should know.

Domestic violence is a cycle of controlling behavior that ranges from physical and sexual abuse to psychological and financial abuse, and involves abuse by one person against family members or an intimate partner. 
 
According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.  The CDC also reported over half of female and male victims experience intimate partner violence for the first time before they turn 25 years old.
 
In most cases, abusers control so many facets of the victim’s life, that it is not enough to only end physical abuse.
 
A victim’s safety requires obtaining basic needs, affordable housing, financial independence and employment. 
 
Warning signs of a potentially abusive relationship are indicated by patterns of coercion and control, including the following from the CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence:

  • Stalking or harassing you, such as following you or showing up at your home or place of employment uninvited?
  • Becoming angry suddenly, refusing to compromise, and constantly blaming you for his/her mistakes?
  • Acting overly jealous about your relationships with others and preventing you from seeing family and friends?
  • Controlling your means of communication, such as your phone and computer?
  • Humiliating or embarrassing you in front of your friends and family?
  • Hitting, pushing, slapping or acting in an otherwise violent manner towards you?
  • Threatening to hurt you, your children, your family members or your pets?
  • Forcing you to have sex or perform other sexual acts when you do not want to?

More information is available at the following links

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we must work together to end the cycle of violence.