PHOTOS: Community Remembers Domestic Abuse Victims

Beverly Police, Healing Abuse - Working for Change (HAWC), Beverly Mayor Bill Scanlon, and members of the community joined for a somber remembrance to the victims of domestic violence, Monday afternoon at Beverly Common. 

"I want to reinforce our commitment to stopping the cycle of violence and domestic violence," Beverly Police Chief Mark Ray told the crowd. "We're never more aware than we are today that it is critical that we do our job well."

The Silent Victim Display, co-sponsored with HAWC, was part of the Beverly Police Department's month long effort to raise awareness for domestic violence.  Ray thanked his staff in the domestic violence unit, and noted the importance of the department's partnership with HAWC.   

The display featured free standing life size wooden figures painted in red, each bearing the name of a Massachusetts victim who once lived, worked, had neighbors, friends, family, children – whose life ended violently at the hands of an intimate partner or acquaintance.

An extra 'unknown' figure was added to represent those uncounted victims whose murders went unsolved or were erroneously ruled accidental. 

The lumber for each figure was donated by Moynihan Lumber, and were constructed by Montserrat student volunteers. 

This weekend, the first annual Beverly Domestic Violence 4 Mile Run will be held at West Beach in Beverly Farms. Learn more about the run here.