Hidalgo DA, Family Violence Taskforce host 2nd Annual Brides’ March in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
EDINBURG – The Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and the Hidalgo County Family Violence Taskforce will host the 2nd Annual Brides’ March to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The event will take place on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the Hidalgo County Annex Building located at 100 E. Cano Street in Edinburg.
Participants will march from parking lot A3 located on the corner of 12th Avenue & Stubbs Street and proceed to the courtyard at Edinburg City Hall located at 415 W. University Drive. The event is free and open to the public. Participants are encouraged to wear bridal attire or white clothes in support of the Brides’ March and domestic violence victims.
The tradition of marching in a wedding dress began in 2001 after the murder of Gladys Ricart, of New Jersey, who was killed while wearing her wedding dress. In 1999, her former boyfriend murdered her on the day she was to wed her fiancé.
According to the Brides’ March organizers website, “For women who have experienced some form of domestic violence, their wedding dress no longer signifies what it did on the day it was first worn because the abuse destroyed those dreams of shared love, honor, respect and a happy home…the white wedding dress has become the profound symbol of the Bride’s March, we encourage all women to wear one.”
Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez, Jr. invites the entire community to join the prevention efforts and stand united against domestic violence.
“This march is a symbol of unity and support for any one – woman or man – who has been a victim of domestic violence,” he said. “We all know someone who has been a victim of domestic violence, whether it is physical, verbal or mental abuse. We have a duty to stand up for them and help put a stop to this all too common form of abuse.”