Take action, speak out against violence

To the editor:

October was National Domestic Violence (DV) Awareness Month and has been designated as such for decades. Purple is the symbolic color. Despite this fact, many Alaskans remain unaware of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and, more importantly, of our grim statistics that prove Alaska is a very dangerous place to live for women and girls.

The University of Alaska Justice Center’s Intimate Partner, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault (DV/SA) 2013 survey found that 53 of every 100 adult women who reside in the Mat-Su Borough had experienced intimate partner violence or sexual violence or both.

In response to the problem, Joe Miner, the Brett Memorial Ice Arena Manager, proposed the arena partner with Mat-Su NOW and participate in DV Awareness Month this year by tying purple ribbons on their approximately 400 pairs of rental skates. The rink also provided space for an informational display, purple decor for their Halloween night open skate, and distributed helpful domestic violence information provided by Alaska Family Services and Anchorage’s AWAIC agency. Mr. Miner reported that skaters’ curiosity about the ribbons prompted many enlightening conversations about Alaska’s continuing problem with domestic violence. He reported the project was especially timely at the rink as a DV incident in the community tragically hit his staff close to home this October. Truly, Alaska’s DV statistics are so high that most of us know several Alaskan women who have experienced domestic violence in their lifetimes.

Alaska NOW applauds Joe Miner and the large party of Brett Memorial Ice Arena staff and volunteers who tied all those ribbons on each of their rental skates and partnered with Mat-Su NOW members and local shelters to take action and raise awareness to help change Alaska’s violent culture. The Brett Memorial Ice Arena and other rinks around the state are planning actions for October 2015. We all need to take action and speak out against violence for a safer, healthier, and happier Mat-Su Valley community. All Valley businesses and agencies are welcome to join the effort.

Barbara McDaniel

President