Why are those buildings purple? Purple, it is said, is the color of courage, survival, honor, and hope. It is also the color recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which takes place each October. During this month, domestic violence service providers use the color purple to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence and the 3 to 4 women and girls who are murdered each day in our country within intimate relationships. Some people in witness and protest wear purple clothing, attach a purple pin, or tie a purple ribbon around a tree. For the past two years, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable, in collaboration with the Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund, and First Parish Unitarian Universalist went beyond that. We lit several faith and public buildings in Sudbury, Wayland, and Lincoln in purple. Some of you may have seen them.

It was a beautiful and dramatic display that both honored those lost to domestic violence and brought awareness to the community that domestic violence has no borders. We want to do that again this year, bigger, brighter, and more powerful than ever.

There are three main ways to participate in the purple lights campaign. Those representing Public Buildings and Faith Communities may request to participate by emailing Sue Rushfirth at infodvrt@gmail.com or suerpt@gmail.com. We invite local businesses to join in by adding their own purple lights. Homeowners may also take part by installing purple bulbs in their door and porch lights and their lampposts.  An effective 4.5 watt Feit purple LED Electric bulb is available inexpensively and locally at Ace Hardware in Wayland. Let’s light up our towns and stand with survivors of domestic violence and their families!