To combat the issue of domestic violence, the City of Mountlake Terrace (MLT) has proclaimed October to be “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” The proclamation was decided on the city council’s Sept. 17 meeting.

Part of the city’s activities for Domestic Violence Awareness Month include the “Purple Light Night Campaign.” Residents are encouraged to display purple lights (called black lights) to support the color of domestic violence prevention.

“We hope that when neighbors see others in their neighborhood shining a purple light bulb in their entryway or window, they will ask that neighbor what it’s all about,” MLT Police Dept. Domestic Violence Coordinator Danielle Signson said. “This is an opportunity for people to talk about domestic violence and make others aware that while we don’t often see or hear about it, domestic violence is still prevalent in our community,” she said. Residents are encouraged to display purple lights. Purple lights are available for residents to take for free.

Nationally, the issue of  domestic violence is a major problem, even among teens. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, “one in three teens report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, slapped, choked or physically hurt by his [or] her partner.”

Domestic violence is a major problem in Mountlake Terrace as well. “Over the last five years the calls for service for domestic violence has been relatively consistent, with over 450 calls per year,” according  to Signson.

Signson said this is sadly typical. “Domestic violence happens in every community, regardless of the cultural makeup of the community, or the socio-economic class,” she said.

Another key component to MLT’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month is the Oct. 16. Candlelight Vigil, at the MLT Police Department. The vigil will be for the victims of domestic violence. Victims of domestic violence are extremely common. According to the Domestic Violence Resource Center, about 25 percent of women experience domestic violence some time in their life.

One of the city’s and police department’s goals for Domestic Awareness Month is to prevent domestic violence through.

“The best way citizens of our community can support Domestic Violence Prevention is to talk about domestic violence to others in their lives.  They can talk to children about appropriate conflict resolution and to other adults about the prevalence of domestic violence,” Signson said.

Purple lights are still available for residents to take. They can be obtained by calling Singson at (425)-744-6257.