City of Hattiesburg raises awareness on Domestic Violence month

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Mayor Johnny DuPree and city officials held a special ceremony Tuesday to raise awareness on domestic violence.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) said on average nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States.

Mayor DuPree said, "Often times this is the only place (domestic violence shelter) people who have been abused have to go."

The Hattiesburg Police Department and local sororities presented a $2,000 check from its 5K Domestic Violence Awareness walk early October.

Lieutenant Latosha Myers-Mitchell said, "You have to be a fighter, you cannot lay down and be a victim, you should be a survivor."

Tawnya Holliman with Delta Sigma Theta said its part of their mission to uplift the community.

"We want to bring awareness and also assist those citizens that have been victims of domestic violence" said Holliman.

The money will help the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter in Hattiesburg to continue to provide services to the men and women they serve.

Executive Director Sarah Holifield said "It means everything to me." She added, "At this time money is very tight for us, we have to be extremely strict on what we could do as far as trying to save everything we can."

"It is awesome to have this, it will give us a little more lenience and provide the awesome services we provide" said Holifield.