Purple Patches Inc. held its 4th Annual Masquerade Gala on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Richmond Community Center. The gala featured dinner, music, and a program honoring survivors and victims of domestic violence.
The gala was organized by Monica Stuart, founder of Purple Patches, a community organization that works to raise awareness about domestic violence and provide support for survivors. Stuart created the group after surviving seven years of abuse that nearly took her life.
“Doctors were telling me my life was over,” Stuart said. “After going into a deep depression, my children told me, ‘Let’s do something to help other women instead of letting the devil get the glory out of any of this.’ So that led me to start Purple Patches.”
The program included guest speakers, survivor testimonies, recognition of women who have overcome abuse, and a moment of silence for those who did not survive. Among those assisting in organizing the event were Judge Laurie Brister, along with other community members and leaders.
Stuart said gatherings like the gala are meant to bring attention to an issue that often goes unnoticed. “We tend not to pay attention to things like domestic abuse. It’s swept up under the rug,” she said. “It is really important to let the victims — or I call them warriors — know that they’re not alone in going through something like this, and to let law enforcement know that what they do is very important to help us come out of what we are in.”
During the event, Tallulah Interim Mayor Yvonne Lewis presented Stuart with a proclamation recognizing her and Purple Patches for their work. The proclamation stated that domestic violence affects nearly 10 million people each year in the United States and that 90 percent of victims are female. It urged residents to recognize October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Tallulah and commended Purple Patches for working with law enforcement and the judicial system to advocate for victims.
