If you don’t own anything purple in your wardrobe, time to start shopping before October rolls around.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence first started Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1981. Back then, it was a Day Of Unity. The color purple was selected as the color to promote awareness for the first Domestic Violence Day of Unity in October 1981. The color is meant to be a symbol of peace, courage, survival, honor, and dedication to ending violence.

The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month took place in 1987. That same year marked the start of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.

In 1989 the U.S. Congress passed a Public Law designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The third Thursday of October has now become nationally recognized as Purple Thursday where people nationwide are encouraged to wear purple to increase awareness of domestic violence. It is also an easy way for people to show their commitment to promoting healthy relationships.

The month of October has been a time to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and be a voice for its victims. Domestic Violence Awareness Month is designed to unify women and men, all across the world, who have been victims of domestic violence.

It is important to recognize that domestic violence impacts millions of people, and it’s not only women who are victims; many men suffer domestic violence as well. Domestic violence is a problem across every status, culture, religion, and race.

There are many different forms of domestic violence as well, which is why raising awareness is so critical. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and even death. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.

Although there has been substantial progress in reducing domestic violence, an average of 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually.

• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking.

• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.

• 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner.

• 1 in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner. Data is unavailable on male victims.

• 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

It is important to note that 50%-70% of domestic violence goes unreported.

Millions of Americans live in daily, silent fear within their own homes. In addition, every year millions of children are exposed to domestic violence. Domestic violence incidents affect every person within a home and can have long-lasting negative effects on children’s emotional well-being, and social and academic functioning.

To raise awareness of domestic violence and its impacts on our local communities WRAP has many activities throughout the month of October. WRAP will be hanging memorial ribbons in Redwood Falls, Marshall, Granite Falls and Ivanhoe. These ribbons will have the names of those who lost their lives due to intimate partner homicide in Minnesota in 2022. To view the full report, please visit 2022 Homicide Report (vfmn.org)

WRAP will be hosting our annual auction and live event. The online auction will run from Oct. 12 to Oct. 19. On Oct. 19 (Purple Thursday) WRAP will host a live event to end the auction. The live event will take place at The Rock in Granite Fall.

For more information about WRAP, to how to participate in our October awareness events including checking out our online auction, purchasing tickets to our Live Event at the Rock on Oct 19. or finding out more about our Memorial Displays, please visit www.letswrap.com under the Get Involved tab in the bids against abuse section. We hope to see you in October.

Domestic Violence Thrives in Silence. Let’s talk about it.

— Becci tenBensel is executive director of WoMen’s Rural advocacy Programs