Parade Of Brides, Grooms March In Washington Heights To Raise Awareness For Domestic Violence
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A parade of brides and a few grooms marched in Washington Heights to raise awareness to end domestic violence.
The crowd of women and men took part in the 14th annual march to remember Gladys Ricart, who was shot by her ex-boyfriend on her wedding day in 1999.
Parade Of Brides, Grooms March In Washington Heights To Raise Awareness For Domestic Violence
Sherry Tagoe wore a floor-length white gown and held a picture of her college friend Nikki McPhatter, who was killed after she tried to break up with her boyfriend in 2009.
"He shot her and then put her in her car and burned the car," Tagoe said. "2009 seems like ages ago, but it just feels like this morning. She was always a really strong woman, someone that always believed in women's rights and was always sticking up for all the girls in school."
Rose Pierre-Louis, the commissioner of the Mayor's Office to Combat Domestic Violence, said they are trying to get the message out that love shouldn't hurt.
"Last year there were over 280,000 domestic incident reports filed with the NYPD," Pierre-Louis said. "There were 62 domestic violence-related homicides."
"We've unfortunately seen a rise in the incidents of domestic violence, so obviously there's a lot of work to do," City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said.
The City Council has spent $6 million so far on resources to put an end to domestic violence.
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