STROUDSBURG, Pa. — Every October, during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a nonprofit organization called Safe Monroe holds a candlelight vigil in Downtown Stroudsburg.
"It's an event for us to not only raise awareness but show solidarity for those who have been affected by domestic abuse, those who are still suffering through abuse, as well as, unfortunately, those who have lost their lives due to domestic abuse," said Lauren Peterson, the executive director of Safe Monroe.
Organizers say that, since the previous vigil last year, nearly 981 people were victims of domestic abuse just in Monroe County.
"Domestic violence is one of the three main and troubling and almost pandemic issues we're facing in terms of criminal calls and trying to break the cycle of violence, so it's up there," said Mike Mancuso, the Monroe County District Attorney.
One domestic violence survivor at the vigil shares how the cycle of domestic violence was prevalent in her own family.
“Generationally, domestic violence goes back in my family probably 100 years at this point that I’m aware of, and I'm very proud to say that at this, I'm the first person to be not dealing with that, and my sister's as well in our relationships,” said Elizabeth Ruggeiro, Domestic Violence Survivor.
“It's more of a common thing than you think, and it can affect anybody anywhere. Domestic abuse knows no bounds, and it can really help to see when people come together like this and show solidarity and stand as a community to say that we are here to support survivors no matter what,” said Peterson.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month Vigil in Stroudsburg
Every year in October, for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a nonprofit in Monroe County organizes a vigil to raise awareness for survivors.