CHICAGO (CBS) — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month—shining a light on something that affects millions of families every year.
On this cool autumn Tuesday, Ohio Street Beach was lined with brown paper bags with candles planted inside. The candles were lit as night fell as a reminder of how many people have been lost to domestic violence.
For 26 years, the nonprofit Between Friends comes out on Oct. 1 to light up the lakefront.
“The hope is as we come here year after year, the number of candles reduces, said Verda Bhatti, executive director of Between Friends . “But unfortunately, it doesn’t.”
The candles represent a human light dimmed by an issue impacting thousands daily—and not just women.
“In the past years, we’ve seen that more and more men sharing their stories and asking for help,” Bhatti said.
Domestic violence has no age, gender, or ZIP code.
“Sometimes it can be very physical, sometimes it can be only verbal, and sometimes it can be emotional,” said Bhatti.