Mayor Gary Christenson joined Zonta Club of Malden’s 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. 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; Denise Keating, City Coordinator of the Girl Scouts; and, Melanie Flynn, Chair of the Malden Warming Center.
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 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and will run until December 10th, Human Rights Day. This year’s global theme is “Orange the world: End violence against women now!” Thanks to Zonta member, Sharyn Zieberg, the Malden club also participated in a lighting of the Zakim Bridge “in orange” on the night of November 26th. 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 powerfully concluded with the reading of names by Zonta member, Ari Taylor, of those individuals who have been killed as a result of a domestic violence situation during the past year.