The Maverick County Coalition Against Domestic Violence held their third annual Peace with Purple Vigil in honor of National Domestic Violence Month.
The event touched on the importance of domestic violence awareness, and providing those stuck in abusive relationships with the resources they need to get out and thrive including help with legal, finance, and shelter. Many of the people that leave abusive relationships, whether physical, emotional, psychological, financial or even abuse related to immigration status, depend heavily on this help.
“Whenever a person leaves an abusive relationship that is the point when they are most at risk for getting killed,” said New Horizons Outreach Case Manager Perla Vela.
This year, the coalition was not only remembering those who had passed away due to domestic violence, but were celebrating almost two years without a domestic violence related death in Maverick County.
MCCADV was also able to secure a protective order, the first issued in ten years by both the Eagle Pass Police Department and the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department.
“We are tons of agencies working together. We want to educate our community on domestic violence and sexual assault, and make it known that there is help available through services in our local community,” said Vela.
The MCCADV was presented with proclamations designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month from both the city and the county by Councilman Luis Sifuentes and Commissioner Rosy Cantu, respectively.
Sifuentes, who works as a school counselor mentioned that despite many of the students thinking that domestic violence as something that happened between adults, he has seen it among high school students.
They think it’s just between grown ups, and I had to tell them we see it here at high school, and if you don’t put a stop to it the first minute something happens to you like that, it’s going to continue and if you don’t get help it can get worse,” said Sifuentes.
The ceremony was an important reminder that not all victim’s stories have to end in tragedy.
One survivor submitted a letter to be read at the vigil. She was able to escape an abusive partner, and now has her own home and works two jobs to support herself and her children. She wrote that she no longer wakes up in fear, and thanks to MCCADV, can live a happy life.
“We try to motivate them and to see that they can do anything that they want it’s just a little bit tougher,” said Vela.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please contact MCCADV Coordinator Perla Vela at 830-309-5165 or 830-757-0600, or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .