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Group Organizes Walk To Raise Awareness Of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault

Victim advocacy groups and supporters have organized a walk on the Wichita State University campus to heighten awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault.

The walk, called The Purple Mile, is designed to increase awareness and celebrate survivors of domestic violence.

Purple ribbons and lapel pins are worn throughout October to promote the high number of incidents locally and nationwide. So far this year in Wichita, there have been six reported victims of domestic violence homicides compared to four in 2014.

Angela Lampe, executive director of YWCA Wichita, says this summer the shelter ran at 97 percent capacity. She says people don’t want to talk about domestic violence, thinking it’s a private matter.

"We know that domestic violence is a prevalent crime," Lampe says. "1 in 4 women are going to experience some type of abuse at the hand of an intimate partner during their lifetime, so it's something we need to be talking about. We need to be aware of what resources are available."

Agencies will set up booths with information during the walk. And it's not only women: statistics also show 1 in 7 men experience domestic violence.

The walk starts at 10 a.m. Saturday the Rhatigan Student Center.

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Carla Eckels is assistant news director and the host of Soulsations. Follow her on Twitter @Eckels.

To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.

Carla Eckels is Director of Organizational Culture at KMUW. She produces and hosts the R&B and gospel show Soulsations and brings stories of race and culture to The Range with the monthly segment In the Mix. Carla was inducted into The Kansas African American Museum's Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2020 for her work in broadcast/journalism.