Domestic Violence March
By Jai Cunningham
About two dozen men are hoping to lead by example, letting other men and boys know that domestic violence is unacceptable.
"I'm even tempted to call it war against domestic violence, and we need to declare that, and we need to fight it,' says Raymund Liongson, Leeward Community College Professor.
And every man is welcome to enlist in this fight.
"And we are so happy that members of the Muslim community, members of the protestant community are here, members of the catholic and other christian charities are here," says Joe Bloom, Catholic Charities Hawaii.
Absolutely, any family can be affected by domestic violence and is unfortunately," says Bishop Larry Silva.
They have been memorialized, faces attached to all those names. At least six domestic violence deaths on Oahu so far this year.
The victims are all ages, one of the latest...
"Was a 7-year-old boy. The men behind me and the women out in the crowd are here today to talk about an alliance that we want to build,"
And so they took a pledge to create a future free of violence for women and children.
They realize what lies ahead.
Well we may be banging our heads against the wall right now, but if that is what it takes let's bang our heads against the wall, and crash that wall," says Liongson.
They are all aware there will be setbacks along this road.
"I think one of the messages the guys here today to all the men in the community is it does hurt, and it's okay for us to show our emotions, even the emotion of anger. But we have to do it in way that are not violent," says Bloom.
And maybe no more appropriate place to take a pledge on non-violence against women and children than in front of a church called Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace.
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