bell ringing

On Wednesday, August 31 at 12pm, bells rang in our communities to express this frustration and loss. They also rallied us to a future where we seek to learn from our collective experiences and losses.

The Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence (MCEDV) and its member organizations around the state partnered with churches and community members to take both symbolic and literal action against the disempowerment and silence so key to relational abuse. At noon on the 31st church bells rang – one minute to mourn our loss and one minute to call us to action.

“The bell ringing is a symbol of healing and action. People need to remember, and they also are looking for ways to make positive change in their own communities,” stated Margo Batsie, Member Services Coordinator at MCEDV, “We are encouraging people to reach out for help if they or someone they care about is in an abusive relationship. There are trained advocates ready to answer the call 24/7 across Maine.”

The bell ringing was, above all else, an opportunity to do something. As Julia Colpitts, the Director of the MCEDV said, “Most of us do not harm our loved ones — however we are more and more aware of the social, economic and human cost of domestic violence for us all. In our small, tight-knit Maine community we are never more than one relationship away from someone harmed by domestic abuse. We invite Maine’s silent majority to join their voices with ours, to speak out and take action. Simple actions can join us together in community and have surprisingly powerful outcomes.”



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