'Speak Their Names' ceremony downtown honors Louisville's domestic violence victims

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and community members held a remembrance ceremony Tuesday for Louisville residents who lost their lives to domestic violence.

The sound of a bell tolling, empty chairs and displays of flowers represented domestic violence victims during a ceremony at Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville.

The annual "Speak Their Names" memorial is organized by Louisville's Center for Women and Families. The organization wants to increase awareness of the free, safe and confidential services available in our community for anyone experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault.

State Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, addressed the victims' families during the ceremony.

"Behind every statistic and headline is a person," Adams said. "Someone with a story, a family, a future that was taken too soon by violence, that never should have happened. That's hard to face but also what makes today so important. We speak their names today to honor them but also to remind ourselves of the work that still lies ahead."

Help is available for victims 24 hours a day at the Center for Women and Families. Its toll-free crisis line is: 1-844-BE-SAFE-1.

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