Zonta Club vigil raises awareness about domestic violence

  Mayor Gary Christenson joined Malden Zonta Club President Michelle Luong and club members for a candlelight vigil on City Hall Plaza to remember and reflect on those lives lost to domestic violence. Other attendees included State Representative Steve Ultrino, Malden School Committee Member Adam Weldai, Malden Police Chief Kevin Molis, Detective Elijah McNeal of the Domestic Violence Division of Malden Police, Girl Scouts City Coordinator Denise Keating and Malden Warming Center Chair Melanie Flynn.

  This event was part of Zonta’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which is an annual international campaign that kicked off on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and will run until December 10, Human Rights Day. This year’s global theme is “Orange the world: End violence against women now!” Thanks to Zonta member Sharyn Zeiberg, the Malden club also participated in a lighting of the Zakim Bridge “in orange” on the night of November 26. The hope is that these events will bring attention to the issue of domestic violence and its gravity while giving a voice to both victims and survivors.

  The vigil concluded powerfully with a reading by Zonta member Ari Taylor of the names of those individuals who have been killed because of a domestic violence situation during the past year.