Brides Walk Miami to raise awareness of domestic violence

J Pat Carter / AP

Josie Asaton, walking behind a police car and dressed in a wedding dress, leads a group of students in protest walk against domestic violence in Miami, Feb. 8, 2013. Barry University hosted its third annual “Brides Walk,” an event to raise awareness about domestic and dating violence among college and high school students, Women in wedding gowns made the six-mile walk. The walk is in memory of Gladys Ricart, who was murdered in 1999 by her ex-boyfriend while preparing for her wedding.

Milwaukee Mujeres Against Domestic Violence Brides Walk Video

 

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Uploaded on Apr 13, 2009

Milwaukee Mujeres Against Domestic Violence Brides Walk... I hope You enjoy the video that I made..

 

On her wedding day just hours after this picture was taken Gladys Ricart was murdered by an ex-boyfriend. A year later Josie Ashton walked in her own wedding dress to commemorate the death of Gladys and bring attention to issues of domestic violence. On February 11, 2011 college students representing various campuses in South Florida will unite and partake in the first college brides walk. Please join us is this active demonstration to educate our youth that violence never leads to love

What is the purpose of the College Brides Walk?
The College Brides' Walk was developed in order to bring awareness to the problems of domestic and dating violence on and off college campuses. The latest statistical report from the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence concluded that almost all violent crime is down in the state but domestic violence incidents increased 3.7%. Domestic Violence related murder increases 15.6% from last year and Domestic Violence manslaughter increased 71.4%. Domestic Violence stalking increased 31%, forty percent of all violent crimes were domestic violence-related and one-fifth of all murders were domestic violence-related. These statistics are alarming and have a tremendous impact on our youth.

Josie Ashton, a local activist, organized the first Brides March after she heard about the brutal murder of Gladys Ricart, a Dominican woman who was killed by an abusive ex-boyfriend in front of her family, on her wedding day. After obtaining permission from the Ricart family to walk in Ricart's memory, Ashton donned her own wedding dress and walked from the New Jersey home where Ricart was killed to Miami, Florida. She stayed in 14 domestic violence shelters and visited 22 cities. Her trip has since inspired annual Brides Marches in New York, Florida, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Who can participate?
Anyone and everyone! Participants are encouraged to wear bridal gowns or tuxedos, if possible. Plain white t-shirts for women and black for men are acceptable in lieu of a bridal gown.

What is the distance?
The walking route is approximately 7.5 miles, starting at Barry and moving toward Biscayne Blvd, heading north on Biscayne, and turning around at 151st St. Participants may walk the entire route or may make arrangements to walk a portion of it. A police escort from N. Miami Police Department will accompany walkers throughout.

When will the event take place?
February 11th, 2011. The event will kick off at Barry University at 1:00 pm with opening remarks. The walk will begin at 2:00 and will be followed by a dinner and program at Barry University. Local service providers and organizations working to end domestic violence will be asked to table at the event.

For more information go to:
www.collegebrideswalk.com

Hundreds In Step For Annual Brides' Walk Against Domestic Violence

wisn

Uploaded on Sep 15, 2009

Hundreds In Step For Annual Brides' Walk Against Domestic Violence