These activities are part of a nationwide effort during October Domestic Violence Awareness Month to create community awareness about the dynamics of domestic violence and how it affects our families and communities.  RWA serves northern St. Louis County, and encourages those who want to stop the violence in our Iron Range communities to join in the “Vigil” and the “March.” 

The keynote speaker for the Vigil is Senator David Tomassoni, a legislator who grew up in the Iron Range community of Chisholm.  Elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1992, Tomassoni is currently serving his third term in the Minnesota Senate, representing Senate District 5.  Earning his BSBA at the University of Denver, and chair of the Senate Economic Development Budget Division Committee, Tomassoni has a strong background in finances and understands the cost of domestic violence in our society. 

“Domestic violence has reached epidemic proportions in this country, increasing 34 percent in the last two years in northern St. Louis County,” says Tomassoni.  “It’s time we recognize what’s going on in our own backyards and start finding solutions to stop the violence.  We have to work harder at educating ourselves and others if we expect to see violence come to an end.”

Domestic violence affects everyone; it fills emergency rooms and morgues; it makes children fearful and angry; it contributes to crimes in the streets; it destroys homes and families. It is a societal issue, a community issue; we need the people in our communities to take action.” 

To take a stand against domestic violence, local grocery stores are asking customers to round up their grocery bill a dollar and receive a complementary “Stop Domestic Violence” window decal.  Participating stores are Zups Food Market, Cook; Zups, Babbitt; Super One, Hibbing; Super One (4^th St. No.), Virginia; U-Save, Biwabik, and Ely Northland Market, Ely. 

Area churches are also holding a special collection during their Sunday services/masses during the month of October in efforts to assist Range Women’s Advocates in prevention and intervention work.  Check with your pastor for details, or call RWA (749-5054) to learn what you can do to take a stand against domestic violence. Until we make “Stopping Domestic Violence” our business, our families, our communities and our society will continue to suffer.