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Letter to the editor

Keeping vigil to end domestic violence

By JONATHAN ABEL, Times Staff Writer
Published January 30, 2008

A participant holds a candle during a vigil held Sunday night at Largo Central Park in memory of all the victims of domestic violence in 2007. About 40 people attended the event, which was coordinated by the Pinellas County Domestic Violence Task Force.
	[Douglas R. Clifford | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Douglas R. Clifford | Times] From left, Carole Dirksmeyer of Clearwater, Courtney Hendrickson of New Port Richey and Linda Osmundson hold candles and bow their heads. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times] Linda Osmundson sings Peace I Ask of Thee Oh River during Sunday's candlelight vigil at Largo Central Park in memory of all victims of domestic violence last year.

By Jonathan Abel Times Staff Writer

The Pinellas County Domestic Violence Task Force held a vigil in Largo Central Park over the weekend to remember victims killed by spouses or partners. While the full scope of the domestic violence problem in Pinellas can't be expressed in numbers, the figures are startling:

20,000+calls in 2007 to Pinellas' two domestic violence hotlines.

6,090 cases received by State Attorney's Office in 2007 related to domestic violence.

11 deaths in Pinellas County last year related to domestic violence.

1 in 4 women is subjected to violence at the hands of a partner in at least one relationship during their lives.

1 in 12 men experience domestic violence at some point in their lives.

1 in 5 homicides in Pinellas over the last decade were related to domestic violence.

40 people attended Sunday night's vigil.

727 442-4128 North Pinellas domestic violence hotline for the Haven of Religious Community Services.

(727) 895-4912 South Pinellas hotline for Community Action Stops Abuse.

(727) 824-6979 Call to volunteer with the task force. Or e-mail Wendy_Loomas@doh.state.fl.us or visit www.dvtf.org.

Source: Pinellas County Domestic Violence Task Force

[Last modified January 29, 2008, 20:04:58]