Purple Thursday, observed this year on October 15, is a powerful national day of action during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Communities across the country will wear purple to show solidarity with survivors and to spark conversations that help break the silence surrounding domestic violence. The color purple symbolizes courage, survival, honor, and hope — a reminder to survivors that they are seen, valued, and supported.
Domestic violence continues to affect millions of individuals and families every year. One in four women and one in nine men experience severe intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Every minute, 20 people in the United States are physically abused by an intimate partner. The presence of a firearm increases the risk of homicide by 500 percent, and 70 women per month are killed by an intimate partner using a gun. Children are deeply impacted as well, with 1 in 15 witnessing domestic violence annually — and 90 percent of those children directly seeing the abuse. These statistics highlight the urgent need for awareness, prevention, and community support.
As we recognize Purple Thursday, we also look ahead to Domestic Violence Survivors’ Day on October 19, a day dedicated to honoring survivors’ strength, resilience, and voices. This year, The Haven Family Shelter will participate in the traditional signing of a Domestic Violence Awareness Proclamation by Brady Mayor Tony Groves, reaffirming the City of Brady’s commitment to supporting survivors and raising awareness throughout the community. The proclamation signing is a meaningful annual tradition that highlights the partnership between local leadership and victim‑service organizations working to end domestic violence.
Survivors’ Day serves as a reminder that healing is possible and that communities must continue building systems that protect victims, hold offenders accountable, and prevent future violence. Awareness must lead to action. Wearing purple, sharing resources, supporting local programs, and listening to survivor voices are meaningful steps each of us can take to help create safer communities.
To continue the conversation, this week’s episode of At Home With Debbie Rule features a powerful discussion on domestic violence with special guest Michaela Hagan from The Haven Family Shelter. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the program explores how to educate yourself and your community on domestic violence issues, how to respond to one of the most provocative questions — “Why does she stay?” — and how to get help if you or someone you know is in a destructive relationship. Together we can stop the violence. At Home With Debbie Rule is your talk show about home, family, and relationships.
Listen to the full episode here: At Home with Debbie Rule — Domestic Violence Awareness (October 11, 2026) https://athomewithdebbierule.podbean.com/e/at-home-with-debbie-rule-october-domestic-violence-awareness-october-11-2026/
