Co-Sponsor, Majority Leader Pineda-Isaac to Attend
Broadway to Getty Square. This is the first time the Brides March will take place in the City of Yonkers. Event co-sponsors include Westchester Latinos Unidos, 100 Hispanic Women -Westchester Chapter, the YWCA, Omega Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Theta Chapter, and Lambda Theta Alpha Sorority Inc., Xi Chapter.
The Brides March is held annually in various cities throughout the country in memory of Ms. Gladys Ricart, who was shot and killed on the day of her wedding by an abusive ex-boyfriend. Marches have been held every year since her death to honor the memory of Gladys Ricart and all other victims of domestic violence.
The march became known as the Brides March because women usually march in their wedding dresses (or wear white) to honor the memory of Gladys Ricart and to stand in solidarity with victims of domestic abuse. Men usually wear black to support those who mourn the death of victims of domestic abuse.
Majority Leader Pineda-Isaac acknowledged that incidences of domestic abuse are on the rise, especially now in the midst of a pandemic, because victims have been locked down in their homes with their abusers. She adds “Now more than ever, we have to show that there is strength in numbers, and show support for domestic violence victims and let them know that they are not alone. For anyone who is in an abusive relationship and needs help, please reach out to my office. We will connect you with the help you need”.
Marisol Alcantara, of Westchester Latinos Unidos, adds that in “honoring the life of Gladys Ricart, we remind the world that domestic violence is a public health issue and that we will continue to work to ensure that everyone lives in a violence-free world”.
To date, thousands of women, men, and youth, among them members of the Ricart family and other families affected by domestic violence, along with elected officials, civic leaders, clergy, students, domestic violence advocates and survivors, gather every September 26, rain or shine, to memorialize Gladys and the many other victims who have lost their lives to domestic violence, and to raise awareness of the horrors of domestic violence.
