Pictured above are participants in a previous year’s “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event in uptown Marysville. The 2019 event will take place Friday and begin at Partners Park.
(Photo submitted)
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On Friday, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Union County Sexual Assault Response Team will be hosting the seventh annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event.
“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” is an international event hosted in towns and cities across the nation to bring awareness and support to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
There is a familiar saying, “You can’t really understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” On Friday, men will walk in women’s shoes as a sign of their commitment to a safer community.
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes serves as an opportunity to generate community dialogue about a difficult topic. In 2018, more than 250 victims of relationship violence were served by the Union County Prosecutor’s Victims of Crime Assistance Program.
“Domestic violence and sexual assault are under-reported crimes due to the fear, humiliation and guilt that victims often face. We feel it is important to show these survivors and their perpetrators that our community will stand with victims and against violence,” Union County Prosecuting Attorney David Phillips said.
Since 2013, hundreds of participants, including Marysville Police Chief Floyd Golden, Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton, county commissioners, city administrators, law enforcement and victims of crime have “walked the walk.”
There will be a display by Turning Point Domestic Violence Shelter and awards given to the largest team of walkers and to the top fundraiser for Turning Point Domestic Violence Shelter.
The walk will take the participants through the streets of Marysville during the City of Marysville’s Friday Nights Uptown. Registration will begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in Partner’s Park. The walk will start promptly at 7 p.m. The event is free.