South Brunswick Domestic Violence Task Force urges area communities to join them in weekend march to stand in support of fighting domestic violence.
By: Melissa Hayes
SOUTH BRUNSWICK Over one hundred residents are expected to take to the streets Sunday to join the Domestic Violence Task Force’s Enough Is Enough Humanity March.
The task force, a subgroup of the township’s Commission on Women, organizes the march annually to make a statement against domestic and school violence.
The free event begins at the Municipal Complex on Ridge Road at 8 a.m. with breakfast and registration and is followed by speakers at 9 a.m. The march should begin at around 10 a.m.
Scheduled to speak is Ruth Anne Koenick, director of sexual assault services and crime victim assistance at Rutgers University. She has been speaking at the event since it began four years ago, according to Debra Johnson, president of the commission and the task force.
Ms. Johnson said other speakers may include a domestic abuse survivor and a women who is going through the divorce process.
Dr. Koenick said Monday that she wasn’t sure what topics she would touch on at this year’s march, but that her discussion would go beyond sexual assault.
"I really talk about issues of human dignity and how people treat each other," she said. "One year I did a whole thing on bullying."
As part of a tradition, prior to the march, plants will be added to the patch in front of the building in memory of those killed in the Columbine.
Ms. Johnson said everyone is welcome to come to the event.
"Some people think it’s more for our young people, which it is for. We try to instill from the time that you’re small that you do not have to accept abuse," she said, adding that the march is for people of all ages.
According to the state Uniform Crime Report, the number of reported instances of rape and domestic violence in South Brunswick dropped from 2002 to 2003. However, Ms. Johnson said domestic violence is a still a problem.
According to the report, two rapes were reported in 2002. One was reported in 2003. In 2002, there were 145 cases of domestic violence reported. In 2003, that number decreased to 124 reported cases.
Ms. Johnson said the commission will be collecting shoeboxes filled with toiletries, hair items, toothpaste, toothbrushes, products for women, underwear, food cards for shopping centers and calling cards.
"We collect them in shoeboxes and give them to the shelters and each shoebox can be given to someone when they come in," she said.
Ms. Johnson said that when many women are in abusive situations they leave their homes without necessities.
This year’s march will be five miles long and will begin and end at the Municipal Complex.
"We really, really need people to come out. The police designed the route and they’re with us on the route," she said. "Please come out."

