Somerville cares about stopping domestic violence and demonstrated its resolve with a candlelight vigil. - Photo by Andrew Firestone

By Andrew Firestone

The people of Somerville spoke out against domestic violence this last Wednesday, October 5, holding a candlelight vigil and marching the circumference of Union Square. Joined by Chief Thomas Pasquarello of the SPD, Alderman John Connelly, and Rep. Denise Provost, the group assembled at the East Somerville Public Safety building afterwards, and shared their perspective on the problem of domestic violence.

Organized by Chairperson of the City Commission for Women, Nancy Bacci, and supported by the Boston Rape Crisis center, the group heard a keynote address by Allison Scrobe-Carroll of the Children’s Hospital Child Protection Program.

Paulette Renault Caraglanes, Director of the Somerville Health Department spoke of her experience with a co-worker who was murdered by her domestic partner, and the importance of speaking up. She spoke of those women found in emergency rooms at local health centers, suffering broken “black eyes and broken bones, who tell us over and over again, ‘I fell down the stairs,’” who should never be have to seek medical attention. She advocated for tougher legislation to combat serial abusers before they commit murder or serious assault.

The vigil was part of Domestic Violence Awareness month.