EAST LANSING - October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Each year, MSU Safe Place and other community organizations like Capital Area Response Effort (CARE), The Women Center of Greater Lansing and End Violent Encounters (EVE) team up to raise awareness, honor survivors and remember those lost.

On October 20th, MSU Safe Place hosted a candle light vigil in front of a purple lit Lansing City Hall. Wearing purple acknowledges Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Purple symbolizes a color of peace, survival, courage and dedication to end violence. Stemming from the United States military, the Purple Heart is presented to those wounded while serving. Domestic violence survivors may be wounded emotionally and physically.

During the vigil, songs were played and poems were read. A moment of silence was held in honor of those who lost their fight to domestic violence.

"We all came together, we always host a vigil," said Community Relations Coordinator of EVE, Kim Kaiser.

In efforts to reach those who weren't comfortable meeting in person for the vigil, MSU Safe Place set up a virtual vigil on their Facebook page.

To cap off the evening, refreshments were held in the City Hall lobby where attendants congregated and received purple ribbons for attending the event.

MSU Safe Place continues to spread awareness on this issue to ensure personal safety welfare and dignity to those experiencing relationship violence.