Mall Mourns Domestic Violence Victims

Women's groups, Cambridge police and concerned citizens gathered yesterday afternoon at the CambridgeSide Galleria in a candlelight vigil to remember the city's 21 victims of domestic violence last year.

Twenty-one candles symbolized the Galleria's commitment to preventing abuse and battery on its premises through new partnerships with city organizations.

The mall has become "a center for resources and literature for battered women and wants to pioneer a new partnership between women and the community," said Adrienne Davis-Brody, senior vice president of WellsPark Group, which owns the Galleria and 15 other New England shopping malls.

The Cambridge Women's Commission and the Cambridge City Council will join the WellsPark Group in this effort.

Several vigil observers also said that special preventative measures are needed in malls.

"Malls are where many women and men go to feel safe," said Alexis P. Gallagher of Sommerville. "When someone is frightened of being home, they go to a mall.

"They can spend an afternoon and think," she added.

The Partnership between the women's groups and the CambridgeSide Galleria is one-of-a-kind, according to Davis-Brody. She said it is a result of almost four months of meetings and planning with anti-domestic violence groups and the Cambridge City Council.

Several speakers mentioned a resolution passed by the council in 1994 making Cambridge a domestic violence-free zone.

"Because we live in a violence-free city, oursis a greater challenge," said Nancy Ryan,executive director of the Cambridge Women'sCommission.

"But with the continued help of the Cambridgepolice, women's groups, shelters and increasedefforts such as this evening's, we'll make it justfine," Ryan said. "Domestic violence, hopefully,will become a thing of the past."

Following the speeches, selected participantsof the vigil lit 21 candles as Melissa Morbeck,human relations manager for Hill Holiday, and aformer victim of domestic violence, read thelitany of the deceased.

Spectators bowed their heads as the names wereread, then observed a moment of silence.

After the ceremony, participants gathered inthe Galleria food court for discussion.

Lisa A. Sargent and Francisco E. Palmarin, bothmembers of the Boston youth organization CityYear, said the ceremony gave them new hope.

"The key to ending domestic violence isknowledge and awareness," they said.

Davis-Brody agreed.

"A constant education process and concernedmembers of the community will go a long way towardending violence," she said.

In her closing remarks, Morbeck cited her ownexperiences with domestic violence.

"Seven short years ago I was on the run. I leftmy family and I just ran. All that I knew was thatI would be free," she said.

"Partnerships like the one formed thisevening...promise to change all that. Now peoplehave a choice," Morbeck added. "People haveoptions. People have hope.

"Because we live in a violence-free city, oursis a greater challenge," said Nancy Ryan,executive director of the Cambridge Women'sCommission.

"But with the continued help of the Cambridgepolice, women's groups, shelters and increasedefforts such as this evening's, we'll make it justfine," Ryan said. "Domestic violence, hopefully,will become a thing of the past."

Following the speeches, selected participantsof the vigil lit 21 candles as Melissa Morbeck,human relations manager for Hill Holiday, and aformer victim of domestic violence, read thelitany of the deceased.

Spectators bowed their heads as the names wereread, then observed a moment of silence.

After the ceremony, participants gathered inthe Galleria food court for discussion.

Lisa A. Sargent and Francisco E. Palmarin, bothmembers of the Boston youth organization CityYear, said the ceremony gave them new hope.

"The key to ending domestic violence isknowledge and awareness," they said.

Davis-Brody agreed.

"A constant education process and concernedmembers of the community will go a long way towardending violence," she said.

In her closing remarks, Morbeck cited her ownexperiences with domestic violence.

"Seven short years ago I was on the run. I leftmy family and I just ran. All that I knew was thatI would be free," she said.

"Partnerships like the one formed thisevening...promise to change all that. Now peoplehave a choice," Morbeck added. "People haveoptions. People have hope.