Women March To Raise Awareness Of Domestic Violence
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Police officers led a group of mostly immigrant women on a march today on the city's north west side as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
March Against Domestic Violence
They marched in the rain, WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser reports.
Victims of domestic violence and their supporters were hoping to reach people on the streets and behind closed doors to let them know there is support and that they have options.
It's a police outreach and empowerment program organized by 25th District Officer Cynthia Flores, especially targeting women in the immigrant community.
Women "are afraid to come to the police because they are illegal here and they're afraid to contact us for any help," Flores said.
Officer Flores is the domestic violence liaison in the 25th District, in the area of Grand and Central Avenues.
She says she spends a lot of time counseling victims and letting them know that there is help for them.
The district's community policing Sgt. Tim Weiglein says they're not looking to deport undocumented victims.
"They fear that we may try to deport them in some way but that's not our intention. Our intention is to get them the service that they need and that they're entitled to."
There's a hotline victims can call to learn about the services available to them and find someone to talk to.
It's 1-877-to-end-dv, as in to end domestic violence.
