NEWS AND EVENTS

H.U.G.S. Sharon, in conjunction with the District Attorney of Norfolk County and the Sharon High School chapter of S.A.D.D. presented the Silent Witness Exhibit at Sharon High School on Wednesday, April 9, 2008.

The Silent Witness Exhibit is a powerful art exhibit developed to commemorate the victims of intimate partner violence whose voices have been silenced.  In 2007, the number of domestic violence-related homicides in Massachusetts rose to an alarming 42 from 24 in 2006, an increase of 75%.  We brought the Silent Witness Exhibit to Sharon to bring awareness and education to the community regarding the issue of intimate partner abuse.

Jane Desberg, President of H.U.G.S. Sharon opened the program. D.A. William Keating, Harriet Reichert, the Domestic Officer of Sharon, and Margie Mitlin, the social worker at S.H.S. all spoke. Students from the S.A.A.D. program reviewed statistics, facts and myths regarding dating violence, as well as the cycle of violence, the warning signs or red flags to be aware of and showed a video they created regarding intimate partner violence abuse. 

The most moving and powerful portion of the program came when Melissa Cann, stepmother of two teen survivors of domestic violence that took their mother's life, spoke to the audience. She talked about how their life has changed since the day of the shootings.

All 42 names of the 2007 victims were read, accompanied by the song "I'll Stand in the Rain."

The following day, classes from the high school viewed the exhibit and watched the speech given by Melissa Cann.

The Silent Witnesses traveled through the town for the remainder of the week to the Sharon Public Library, Eastern Bank, Temple Sinai, Town Hall the Adult Center and the Sharon Train station. 

For more information call: 781-784-5056