Recently, the brothers of Lambda Phi Epsilon showed that we were able to “step out,” by actively participating in Sigma Psi Zeta’s issue awareness event. Then Lambdas took it further by continuing to “speak out,” and step onto the streets of Seattle and into the heart of the nexus of judicial authority, the King County District Court, and bring the issue before the community at large by volunteering and taking place in a candlelight vigil in honor of victims of domestic violence.
In 1995, a man entered the court and shot his wife and her two friends to death. She was looking to divorce him due to his abusive nature and apparently this man was unable to deal with the trials of divorce; instead decided to take things into his own hands. This murder of cold blood emulates a situation when an abusive person is willing to up the ante of their twisted game and take the life of someone they supposedly hold dear. The woman was pregnant with his child and had stuck through his abuses; so he was clearly the one in the wrong. And yet, instead of showing remorse and trying to make amends or even allowing her to go forth and live free, he chose to commit this heinous action. While the murder might be the high point and sudden in the eyes of community observance, let us not forget that this woman was being abused by him for a lengthy period of time before her untimely demise.
In honor of her memory and so many others who meet their end after a life of suffering, those who escaped suffering, and those continue to suffer in silence, the API Safety Center represents a beacon to the community at large; symbolizing that there is light in the darkness and there are those who are aware and are willing to help. Aside from the vigil march, participants were also able to listen to city leaders express their wishes to fight against the elusive shadow called domestic violence as well as listen to testimonials from those who have experienced domestic violence.