Safe Berks will honor and remember victims of domestic violence homicide in Berks County on Monday, October 17 at their 21st Annual Silent Witness March & Dedication. The event is held each October, as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. When the march arrives at RACC, there is a Dedication Ceremony, followed by lunch.
Participants march from Safe Berks to Reading Area Community College, and will carry red, life-size silhouettes that symbolize the victims. Each silhouette wears a shield that describes the tragedy of their untimely death. The event serves to mourn for each of the victims, and their families and friends. Since 1999, when Safe Berks began keeping records of fatalities, there have been 80 people killed by domestic violence in Berks County.
Date: Monday, Oct. 17, 2022
Start time: 11:00 am
Location: Gather at Safe Berks, 255 Chestnut St., Reading
March: 11:15 am – 11:45 am, participants silently march from Safe Berks to Reading Area Community College’s Schmidt Training & Technology Center
Dedication Ceremony: 12:00 pm – 12:40 pm
Lunch: 12:45 pm – 2 pm
This event is free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, contact Delio Santana, Manager of Education and Outreach Programs at Safe Berks, at [email protected] or 610-370-7811.
Safe Berks thanks Reading Area Community College for their support in holding this event.
During the month of October, the Safe Berks Silent Witness Project will be on display at Kutztown University, Alvernia University, and Reading Area Community College. The Silent Witness Project brings the attention of the community to domestic violence, and the efforts of Safe Berks to end this deadly and tragic public health crisis.
Safe Berks, founded in 1976 as Berks Women in Crisis, provides free and confidential services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their family members and significant others. Safe Berks services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our services include shelter, counseling, legal services, community outreach and response, medical advocacy, and education. Our services are available in English and Spanish and will be translated into any other language needed. Our 24-hour Hotline is: 844-789-SAFE (7233), or text the words SAFE BERKS to 20121.
