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Vigil held for victims lost to domestic violence
FOX 26 Reporter Gabby Hart spoke with officials who are raising awareness about domestic violence.
LEAGUE CITY, Texas - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and on Wednesday evening, city officials held a vigil in League City. Dozens of people gathered in front of a freshly painted purple gazebo to raise awareness and show support for domestic violence victims.
"Know that it could happen to anybody. It doesn’t discriminate, it happens in all areas, to all ethnicities and all genders, so just be more open about it," said Family Law Attorney Kindel Jenkins.
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Kindel is also a survivor of domestic violence, she says holding vigils like this to raise awareness is of the upmost importance, especially right now.
"A lot of other things are going on in our country right now. But with domestic violence being a rising issue in our country, I think it’s important to bring a focus back to it and the fact that it’s still going on." Jenkins said.
This event comes just one day after Houston police arrested 35-year-old Nickie Costello. He’s accused of stabbing both of his parents to death inside of their north Houston home on Tuesday night.
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"There is kind of a pattern of violence. I think it usually starts with emotional control, financial control, and then works its way to physical. In other cases, it can be completely unplanned and something that you couldn’t see coming." Jenkins commented.
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According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, more than 10 million adults will experience domestic violence every year and domestic violence hotlines receive over 19,000 calls per day.
It’s a dangerous trend that Jenkins says she’s seeing far too often in her practice.
"We’ve seen a huge increase in numbers. I think the pandemic has played a major part, I think it’s also becoming more normal to talk about it," she explained.
Remember if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there are many resources in Texas available to help yourself or a loved one get out of a potentially dangerous situation. Click here to view those resources.