ST. LOUIS – Purple Thursday is a national day of action each October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The campaign aims to raise awareness and envision a world without violence or abuse.
Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation launched the campaign in St. Louis, along with other organizations, companies, and communities.
“Diamond Diva is a domestic awareness nonprofit,” Joi Benton, special events coordinator for the Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation, said. “We help men, women or children going through domestic violence situations, and we offer them resources if they’re going through those crisis situations.”
This year, the organization’s mission has intensified by offering free purple light bulbs to communities and neighborhood partners courtesy of Walmart and Purina.
“We’re trying to turn our city purple today,” Velda Village Hills Mayor Effie Moore said. “We gave out purple bulbs for them to turn out domestic violence. (It’s) close to me … because I had two sisters who were domestic violence victims.”
Moore says her city and other communities have joined forces with the organization by placing purple lights on their front porches through the month of October.
St. Ann Police Officer Clay Farmer lost his sister to domestic violence and hopes the community will not only show their support for survivors of but also create a sense of unity within the community.
“I understand people don’t want people in their business and are reluctant,” Farmer said. “Or they think it’s not that bad; we can handle it. No. If you see something, say something. Loved ones, friends, it doesn’t matter.”
For more information: Diamond Diva Empowerment Foundation
