Silent Witness Project sheds light on domestic violence

The Silent Witness project, a traveling memorial to the victims of domestic violence, is being displayed in various Merced County communities throughout the month of October.

The exhibit of red silhouettes made its first stop in the Multicultural Arts Center in downtown Merced last week. The traveling exhibit also stopped in Atwater, Los Banos and Planada.

The Department of Child Support Services will host the silhouette display from Friday through Oct. 15. Silhouettes will also be placed at the library, the Mental Health Department and on the main floor of the Merced County Administration Building from Oct.16-21.

The Silent Witness project will conclude with a “Peace for Families” March at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 22 from Courthouse Park to the Boys & Girls Club of Merced.

According to organizers, each silhouette represents a victim who was murdered by a spouse, common-law partner or intimate acquaintance. Because the victims no longer have a voice, the silhouettes stand as silent witnesses, organizers said.

According to statistics shared during Wednesday’s event, Merced County law enforcement officials receive about four calls related to domestic violence per day. In California, domestic abuse comprises 11.8 percent of all homicides in a year.

Megan Sims, event organizer with the Merced County Human Services Agency, shared her story with the audience.

“It’s difficult, but I’m proud to admit that I’m a survivor,” Sims told the audience. “Just like many others, I was ashamed. It wasn’t until I realized I was at risk of losing my own life that I decided to leave.”

The abuse can be physical, emotional and psychological, she said.

Sims reminded attendees that 1 in 3 women at one point in their lives become victims of domestic violence. “They need to know they’re not alone,” she said.

Merced County Sheriff’s Detective Ralph Zyskowski was present to ask for the community’s help in identifying signs of domestic abuse. “Law enforcement can make a difference, but there’s a misconception that we’re empowered by guns and jail cells ... the truth is we’re empowered by the community we serve,” he said.

Domestic violence strikes Zyskowski close to home. In 2009, his mother was the victim in a murder-suicide. His mother’s killer was her third husband, a veteran and former law enforcement officer. The signs aren’t always so clear, he said. “I thought my mother was in good hands.”

“I felt the pain and I felt the heartache,” Zyskowski added. “If we can reach out to the community and make an impact, we will all benefit.”

This story was originally published October 6, 2014 at 7:58 PM with the headline "Silent Witness Project sheds light on domestic violence."