By: Celia Martinez

A sea of purple balloons floated above the sidewalks of 18th street, Ashland and Cermak in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood last Saturday afternoon as families, community members, staff and supporters of Mujeres Latinas en Acción marched to raise awareness on the issue of domestic violence.

Mujeres Latinas en Acción holds their annual ‘Ni Una Victima Mas’ March Against Domestic Violence every October, the designated month of Domestic Violence Awareness. Each year they work to eliminate domestic violence by bringing together activists, survivors and communities to mourn those who have died as a result of domestic violence, celebrate those who have survived, connect those who work to end the violence and assist survivors to break the cycle of abuse. “By marching together today we bring domestic violence out of the shadows and say that it is not okay,” said Maria del Socorro Pesqueira, president and CEO of Mujeres Latinas en Acción.

The event began in Pilsen’s Harrison Park, 18th Street and Damen, where participants gathered for a ritual cleansing ceremony performed by Mexican cultural dancers. Supporters (made up of men, women and children) then took to the streets of Pilsen holding banners, ribbon shaped posters and purple balloons chanting, “Ni una victima mas!” “Not another victim!”

Support in the cause was evident not only in those participating in the march, but in the occasional passerby who would stop to read the signs, lend an ear or honk the horn of their car.

The march ended as the crowd arrived outside the office of Mujeres Latinas en Accion, 2124 W. 21st Pl. Once there, supporters were asked to release the purple balloons they held into the sky, symbolizing a life lost to domestic violence. Attached to each balloon were motivational messages and the organization’s contact information, in hopes that the balloons would eventually reach those most in need.

Cicero resident and Mujeres Latinas en Acción member Cecilia Esparragoza, marched and chanted with the crowd as she held a banner along the way. Esparragoza said this was her first time participating in the march and felt honored to be a part of it. “I’m very proud to be here,” Esparragoza said. “There is so much violence… so many children that die in the hands of their own parents. There are also men who are abused and they don’t speak because of fear or shame- a lot people think it only happens to women.”

Esparragoza said that aside from the fear and shame, many victims may not know who to turn to and therefore remain silent. “I encourage everyone to speak up. There are groups that can help, Mujeres Latinas [en Acción] always helps.”

For domestic violence survivor Francis Velez, these words are very true. Velez, along with a few other speakers, shared her story with the crowd of supporters upon arriving to the office. Velez said that her abuse reached to a point that she could no longer function as mother, or even a person. “I would always hear my abuser tell me ‘no one is going to believe you,’ ‘what happens at home stays at home,’ ‘it’s your fault too.’ I thought this was a way of life,” she said.

Velez now stands strong and encourages victims of domestic violence to speak up and seek help, “I was afraid when I first came here, but I thank God that this group helped me pick myself up and gave me the tools that I needed. I used to walk with my head down because people would see me with a black eye… but today I lift my head with a lot of pride,” she said.