Moms Stand Up Against Domestic Abuse By Walking Across Brooklyn Bridge
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some moms skipped Mother's Day brunch Sunday to raise awareness about domestic violence by walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, WCBS 880's Monica Miller reported.
"One out of every three women will experience some type of abuse throughout their lifetime," said Dawn Diaz, a domestic-violence survivor and founder of Milagros Day Worldwide, which hosted the walk from Manhattan to Cadman Plaza Park.
Diaz said women aren't the only ones who vulnerable.
Moms Stand Up Against Domestic Abuse By Walking Across Brooklyn Bridge
"Up to 10 million children a year witness or experience the environment of domestic violence," she said.
"There is a loss of identity," Diaz continued. "So the child that grows up in a home where it's not safe, they don't know who they are. And so what happens is they look outside of themselves to fulfill them and to create an identity for themselves."
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who attended the walk, said domestic abuse is being passed down to younger generations.
"Domestic violence has actually crept into our local school system," he said. "You have junior high school students and high school students and college students who are involved in abusive relationships."
Lila Green almost lost her life to an abusive boyfriend. She said her way out was by reading self-help books that boosted her confidence.
"Just try to find ways to empower yourself and talk to someone," she said. " ... There's people out there who want to help you."
The walk was not only about raising awareness about the group's cause, but also symbolized the experiences of abused women around the world.
"If you can walk across this bridge you can walk across the threshold of being abused," Adams told CBS 2's Janelle Burrell.
For Carmen Valentin the walk was a teaching experience.
"What better way to teach my family to walk for a good cause," she said.
It was an important lesson and new memory for her daughters on Mother's Day.
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