Inaugural Silent Witness unveiling to raise awareness of domestic violence

The unveiling of the inaugural Silent Witness display will be from 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 1, in the Student Union Rotunda. Using life-size figures, Silent Witness enables individuals to visualize victims of domestic violence.

UNC Charlotte’s Silent Witness event will feature seven figures that represent a local woman and her story. Among the witnesses will be Jamie Kimble. Following Kimble’s death, her parents Ron and Jan created the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage, an organization that creates partnerships to bring effective and innovative domestic violence prevention programs to the public.

During the Silent Witness event, the stories of the seven women will be read as the figures are unveiled.

The Silent Witness Initiative began in 1990 by a group of women who were upset by the growing number of women in Minnesota being murdered by their partners. As a part of their national movement, the Silent Witness Initiative has as its goal to eliminate domestic violence homicides by 2020. Events similar to UNC Charlotte’s are being held across America and in several countries worldwide.

The UNC Charlotte event is free; students who attend will receive a wellness passport stamp.