BY DONNA SWICEGOOD

More than three dozen people took to the streets in downtown Statesville on Wednesday afternoon to “Walk A Mile In Their Shoes” in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

October was designated as Domestic Violence Awareness month in the late 1980s.

Carrying signs with messages such as “Love Don’t Hurt” and “Her Fight is My Fight” as well as signs with individual messages from the walkers, the group took a loop around downtown before returning to the Upper Room for lunch.

Statesville Mayor Costi Kutteh read a proclamation designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Statesville. Since he is not seeking re-election, it will be his last official proclamation.

“It’s always my honor and my privilege and pleasure to be with your group and other groups that continue to do the good work. I was speaking to another group and it was the first time I thought about that it will be the last time in this role that I’ll meet with this body,” he said. “Thank you very much for all that you do.”

District Attorney Sarah Kirkman told the group that she was proud to be from a community that comes together to support victims of domestic violence and raise awareness of the issue.

She said she thought about the issue as she joined the walk prior to the lunch.

“As we walked out there, it was really fun and it is a pretty day and I hope you carry that with you and when you deal with victims in your jobs or in the services you provide, I hope you will remember what it’s going to be like to walk a mile in their shoes of a victim,” she said.

Kirkman said her staff is committed to helping victims of domestic violence.

“We take domestic violence cases very seriously,” she said.

Statesville Police Chief David Onley said the support of non-profits that reach out to offer assistance in dealing with domestic violence is remarkable.

“I think no one in this community could even fathom how many people reach out and help us and provide support for us to do this job,” he said.

The chief said for 12 years the SPD has been designating detectives to handle domestic violence cases thanks to grants from the federal government. Onley recognized Pam Navey, who is retired from the SPD, for spearheading much of the effort to put together the grants and the coordinated response to domestic violence cases.

Emily Cowan, a victim advocate for My Sister’s House, the Fifth Street Ministries’ shelter for domestic violence victims in Iredell County, said addressing the issue is not a singular effort.

“We certainly provide the services to those who are fleeing domestic violence and who are in immediate danger, but could not do and would not be able to do without your support,” she said as she thanked those who partner with My Sister’s House.

Cowan said in the past year they have served more than 100 guests at My Sister’s House. Counselors have seen 127 individuals for over 1,000 counseling sessions.

“That is a huge impact on our community,” she said.

She said victim advocates have reached more than 300 individuals.

Navey also talked about the importance of a coordinated effort to address the issue.

“I want to let some of the investigators here that work for the police department and the folks that work for the DA’s Office know how important the partnerships are. That Emily is a six-times a week call or text when we get a call when we get anybody involved in domestic violence,” she said.

Navey said there were survivors of domestic violence at the luncheon.

“These folks live, still some of them, in fear from their perpetrators. And that’s why it’s so important that we have this Domestic Violence Task Force here in Iredell,” she said.

She said that after the COVID pandemic the task force has waned, but there are efforts underway to rebuild it.

“We don’t want four or five people at a meeting when we’ve got these current issues going on,” she said.

She encouraged anyone interested in serving on the task force to contact either her or Cowan.

“We have worked through so many situations over the years through the task force,” she said. “We don’t want that to go away.”