church
help End Domestic Violence
Vigil commemorates 27 murders in 2011-12
by helen Silvis
of The Skanner News
A
crowd of about 40 people turned out
to Dawson Park in North Portland
Thursday evening to remember the
27 victims of domestic violence killed dur-
ing the last year. Around the stage, paper
bags, lit up from within represented the
dead. The candlelight vigil, organized by
Portland Women’s Crisis Line, aims to
bring the community together to stop part-
ner and family violence.
Rebecca Nickels, executive director of
the nonprofit crisis line, introduced the
speakers, saying it is the stories of those
who have escaped violence that make it
possible for her to continue her work.
Survivor Anastacia Papadopulous spoke
of escaping a violent relationship. After a
vicious attack, where her husband bit off
some of her nose and attempted to kill her in
front of her children, Papadopolous called
the Portland Women’s Crisis Line and was
given help to leave. Now, she said, she was
lending the only thing she had in order to
give back, her voice.
Through speaking out, Papadopulous
said, “I take something back that was taken
from me over the course of 10 years living
with an individual who was very violent,
physically and emotionally abusive.”
More people need to help to prevent more
lives being lost, she said.
“We need to talk about domestic violence,
not only in the month of October; we need
to talk about domestic violence every day
because it happens every day.
“I remember coming to last year’s event,
and thinking I would have been one of those
bags,” Papadopolous said, he voice break-
ing. “My name would have been called out
and my parents would have been present
and maybe even my children if he hadn’t
killed them too.”
Elder Elmer Yarborough, spoke powerful-
ly of being sexually abused as a child, and
about the terrible impact of seeing his moth-
er lying on the floor with her head split open
and bleeding, left unconscious to die while
her attacker continued watching television.
If Yarborough had not been able to call the
police his mother could be dead, he says.
She carries the scars to this day.
“I look on the scar and every time I see it
I become angry again but then I remember
that my mom survived. In order for us to
stop domestic violence
“Young people often times make excuses
for why their boyfriends beat them, make
up excuses as to why they should succumb:
he had a bad day, he was drunk… There’s
never, ever a reason for any man young or
old to out his hands on a woman EVER. I
don’t care what she did, no woman ever
deserves that,” he said
Yarborough called up Yashanee Vaughn’s
little brother Keyonte who brought red bal-
loons.
“As we release these balloons we will
never forget Yashanee or anyone else that
died because of violence. It is my hope that
young men are held accountable for their
crimes,” he said. “Young women set an
example, that when a man put his hands on
you walk away from him so that your chil-
dren not be exposed to such violence that
they grow violent and become violent them-
selves.”
Reach the Portland Women’s Crisis line
at 503-235-5333 or toll free at 888-235-
5333. Native American women can call
NAYA’s crisis line at 503-288-8177.
African American women can find cultural-
ly specific services at Bradley Angle’s
Healing Roots Center, 503-281-2442.
Next Week: Part Two: Survivors Speak
Worship in Pink
An afternoon of inspiration, education and hope is on tap at the Worship
in Pink campaign for breast cancer awareness and early detection,
Sunday, Oct. 30 from 2 – 6 p.m. at the legacy Emanuel Medical Center
Atrium, 501 N. Graham, in Portland.
The event includes celebration; breast health and wellness information;
performance by the Sisters in Survival Choir directed by Julianne Johnson
with Janice Scroggins and Ambrosia; a special memorial tribute to those
lost to breast cancer; speakers and a special reading of “The Breast
Cancer Monologues.” The event is free, sponsored by legacy health and
the Oregon and SW Washington Affiliate of Susan G. komen
for the Cure.
Read the rest of this story online at
www.theskanner.com
october 26, 2011 The Portland Skanner page 9