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Jamaicans join forces to silently say no to violence against woman

Published:Saturday | November 24, 2018 | 12:00 AMNadine Wilson-Harris
A section of the crowd at Emancipation Park in New Kingston yesterday for the annual Silent Protest to End Violence Against Women.
Men joining the annual Silent Protest to End Violence Against Women yesterday.
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Monique McDonald felt alone when she was sexually abused as a child, so yesterday, the 27-year-old lent her support to other survivors by participating in a silent protest to denounce violence against women.

"My message for Jamaica is let us work as one. Let us look out for our children," McDonald told The Sunday Gleaner as she joined hundreds of others in the silent protest in New Kingston.

The protest was led by executive director of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life​ Kandasi Levermore and saw participants marching from Emancipation Park in New Kingston around sections of the Corporate Area before returning to the park.

"There are survivors here today, whether it is sexual abuse survivors or physical violence survivors, intimate partner survivors, but there are also persons who are supporters or others who just say, 'We agree with your message'," said Levermore.

Co-founder of the female support group Eve for Life Joy Crawford was pleased that women from across the island came out for the protest.

"This is our fourth year, and it has got bigger every year," said Crawford.

nadine.wilson@gleanerjm.com