Domestic Violence Awareness Month Ceremony

The event will be held at 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 16, on the Town Green in front of Leesburg Town Hall (25 West Market Street). The ceremony will feature several guest speakers, including Leesburg District Supervisor Kristen Umstattd, Chief of Police Thea Pirnat, and representatives from the Diversity Commission and LAWS. Survivors will also share their stories. Several organizations, including the Leesburg Police Department, Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, Loudoun County Animal Services, Women Giving Back, and Ashiyanaa, will staff resource tables. There will be a candlelight vigil and moment of silence at the conclusion of the ceremony to remember victims of domestic violence. It is the third consecutive year that the Diversity Commission and LAWS have co-hosted this ceremony. “The annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month ceremony has become a signature event for both the Diversity Commission and LAWS. By amplifying the voices of survivors, and highlighting the many resources our community offers, we send a clear message that domestic violence will not be tolerated in Leesburg,” stated Diversity Commission Chair Lisa Marie Horvatinovich. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved inside Town Hall. Throughout the month of October, the Town Green will be illuminated purple in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The mission of the Diversity Commission is to help foster diversity and inclusion within the community at large. More information about the Commission can be found at https://www.leesburgva.gov/government/boards-and-commissions/diversity-commission.