ST. CROIX — Over 50 pair of shoes were placed on the ledge of a wall near the Scale House in King Street, Christiansted, representing those who died as a result of domestic violence on this island. Called the “Shoe Project”, the names of the deceased victims were mentioned one by one as volunteers placed the shoes at the front of the area where cameras of media personnel and cellphones of residents who turned out in support of the annual event\u00a0could see. The Shoe Project is also the most emotional segment of the annual March Against Domestic Violence, according to Women Coalition’s\u00a0Crisis Counselor Sheelene Gumbs.<\/p>\n
The march started at the St. John Anglican Church’s parking lot, as residents and officials — including Senators Sammuel Sanes, Kenneth Gittens, Novelle Francis, Jr. and Jean Forde — walked silently, candles lit, escorted by police vehicles in remembrance of lives lost through \u00a0domestic violence. The crowed seemed to be under one hundred, but the impact of the march, though silent, could be felt loud and clear to onlookers going about their separate ways.<\/p>\n
Upon arrival at the location, various Women’s Coalition officials spoke about the importance of the event, including Director Khnuma Simmonds-Esannason, who encouraged attendees to wear black every Thursday of every week as a reminder of the ongoing struggle.<\/p>\n
The most impactful talk of the night, however, was that of Daren Stevens, who, for the first time, shared some portions of the assault against him in St. Thomas a few years ago, which left Mr. Stevens critically injured and a female victim dead.<\/p>\n