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Published: 2012-12-12 08:42:00
Updated: 2012-12-12 10:48:46

Silent march to highlight recent domestic violence crimes


Silent march brings awareness to domestic violence
Silent march brings awareness to domestic violence
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With domestic violence crime continuing to make headlines in Wake County, supporters of a nonprofit that helps victims will hold a silent march Wednesday in downtown Raleigh to bring awareness to the problem. 

Organized by the Wake County Domestic Violence Task Force, Wednesday's march is in response to the sixth domestic violence-related homicide in Wake County in 2012, an apparent murder-suicide in Holly Springs Dec. 3. More Info     Domestic Violence Domestic violence-related resources

Christina Brewer, spokeswoman for InterAct of Wake County, a nonprofit that helps victims get help, Wednesday's march is also a chance for the community to understand the impact of domestic violence. 

"It's to help raise awareness so the community understands that this is everybody's issue," she said. "It is happening in our community, and this lets people know they can get help."

Amber Seymore, who was found shot to death in an apparent murder-suicide less than two weeks ago, called 911 about her husband just 10 days before she was killed.

"My husband has a gun and a bad temper," she told the dispatcher. "He shoved me and got in my face and was yelling at me when I was holding the kids."

Officers said the couple's 2-year-old child was home when Robert Seymore fatally shot his wife and then himself.

In September, Kathleen Bertrand, 41, was shot and killed by her ex-husband, 42-year-old Christopher Bertrand, in Raleigh's Cameron Village shopping center. 

Earlier this year, police say Agata Flipska Vellotti, 43, was killed by her estranged husband, Mario Vellotti, outside a north Raleigh apartment complex after returning home from walking their 6-year-old son to school.

"Domestic violence happens all the time," Brewer said. "It's estimated than one in four women in their lifetime will be a victim, and we at InterAct estimate that hundreds of thousands of men and women in Wake County are impacted every year." 

In 2011, InterAct served more than 8,300 direct victims of domestic violence, Brewer said.

Brewer said victims looking for help should know that they have options. 

"Know that you are believed. Know that there are people out there that can help you," she said. 

According to the North Carolina Council for Woman, North Carolina ranks fourth in the nation in homicides committed by men against women.

Wednesday's march will begin at noon on the steps of the Wake County Courthouse.


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I wonder if they discussed Rhianna going back to the guy that beat her?

The police and the law cannot protect you from yourself. If you are in fear of your life and you call 911 you should be smart enough to know it is past time for you to exit. People in these relationships thrive on each other. They need each other just like a drug addict. Abuse always escalutes. It dont get "no better". There are places you can go--there are friends and relatives. But the bottom line here is that you just dont want to leave cause you think you better off there than somewhere else. The march was for exercise it wont help anyone. You just have to be SMART enough that you know it wont get any better and for safety sake you need to leave.

People that abuse their partners will not be affected by a silent march any more than murderers are affected by candlelight vigils.

There are people who chose to abuse the system....and this does not help anyone....it is sad when there are supposedly people who are suppose to help those in need....but instead get drug down with the ones who are abusing the system....my son was indicted not once but twice by the GRAND JURY with NO EVIDENCE of a crime being committed....Did I mention that there was NO EVIDENCE of any crime to begin with? It took over 2 years for all charges to finally be *DISMISSED*....what happened to people's rights? Until *issues* such as this is resolved....the system will continue to make BIG MISTAKES....

abuse is a two-way street.

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