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Also read Covenant News story Marchers Show Support for Victims of Domestic Violence

March to honor Victims of Domestic Violence, support VAWA, Draws Hundreds and Launches new Center for Social Justice

(Atlanta) The Center for Social Justice, a ministry of Commissioned Disciples Covenant Church (CDC2), spearheaded a march of approximately 200 survivors, friends, relatives and supporters of domestic violence victims Saturday, May 7th, in conjunction with Mother's Day.

The march was the first official function of the new center, a component of the year-old church plant in Stone Mountain, GA, pastored by Rev. Catherine Gilliard. The event featured a silent march comprised of individuals who knew and were touched by several women who had been murdered in domestic violence incidents. The group gathered in a parking lot at Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, prayed, then marched two miles to the state capitol in silent tribute to the thousands of mostly women and children who are annually beaten, controlled and sometimes killed by the men in their lives.

Minister Jerry Wyatt, director of the Center for Social Justice, told the audience that a woman is victimized by domestic violence every 15 seconds in the United States, urging everyone to call their congressional representatives to support the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women (VAWA) Act, set to expire in 2005.

Wyatt’s neighbor McCine Brown Johnson, was murdered in March. He led the efforts to rally supporters like Walmart, where Johnson worked, Kinko's and the Coca-Cola Company to support a candle-light vigil that drew over 100 people to the victim's neighborhood on a rainy night. The tragedy proved to be the catalyst for the march, which is now scheduled to become an annual event.

The Center for Social Justice has long been a dream of Pastor Gilliard, who’s church, (www.cdc2.info), will officially celebrate its one-year anniversary at the denomination’s annual meeting in June.

"The women who have been killed will never be forgotten and this march is a wonderful ministry to the community, which has come together to grieve," said Gilliard. "The launch of the Center for Social Justice is a true move of God. We are committed to addressing areas of injustice and to educating the community on how we are empowered to make change a reality. The center will facilitate, but the community must partner with us to raise awareness through education and ignite change by becoming activists for justice who fear God more than rejection."