The Brides’ March
By Maribel Rodriguez
Women and men from all over the New York gathered in Washington Heights on September 26 for the 14th Annual Brides’ March, a movement against domestic violence. The Gladys Ricart and Victims of Domestic Violence Memorial Walk/Brides’ March began in 2001 to raise awareness about domestic violence.
In 1999, on the day of her wedding, Gladys Ricart was murdered by a former abusive boyfriend. Annually, on the exact day, women gather in their white bridal dresses and men in their black tuxedos to rally against domestic violence.
Supporters march throughout Manhattan and the Bronx dressed in their white wedding gowns.
Many men also came to support the cause, carrying signs like this one, ”Domestic Violence is a social problem.”
Supporters and survivors gather at the Brides’ March first check point in the Bronx at the courthouse on 161st Street where Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. discusses the high domestic violence rates in the Bronx.
Several women’s groups joined the march like the Pace Women’s Justice Center.
Hope’s Door is another organization that fights to end domestic abuse and to empower victims.
One mother of domestic violence victims wears a banner of her daughter and her granddaughters in honor of their memory.
A same sex survivor asks others to speak up about violence in gay partnerships.
The approximately 6.5 mile march takes participants through Washington Heights, the Bronx and Harlem.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Wear purple to show your support.
The bride’s dress symbolizes the death of Gladys Ricart on her wedding day.
The Brides’ March organization also encourages women to donate their wedding dresses for future marches if they “no long represents what it did to you the day you first wore it.”
The well-attended march comes to an end at East Harlem Children’s Aid Center on 104th Street.
May the eyes of those that apply the law seek justice and vindication for our slaughtered, abused, held mentally captive and the one whom view the constant by the P.T.S.D. . We live among the monsters….keep the beast captive where they belong.