On Thursday, October 8, more than 1,000 marchers participated in the 21st Annual Men’s March Against Violence in Downtown Honolulu. Among those leading the event were students, faculty and staff from the University of Hawaiʻi campuses as well as state and city officials and various school groups and non-profit organizations from across the state.
The theme of the march and rally was “Walk the Talk.” Serving as honorary chair of the event was Jerris Hedges, dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine.
“This is a great opportunity for UH to show our commitment to non-violence on our campuses and in homes throughout Hawaiʻi,” said UH President David Lassner. “I am proud and pleased to see Jerris as the honorary chair once again, Kapiʻolani CC as a presenting organization and Board of Regents Chair Randy Moore and UH Athletics Director David Matlin as part of the organizing breakfast.”
“The marchers and those supporting this year are doing a wonderful job of spreading the message,” said Hedges. “The message is that people need to be aware of domestic violence, need to know how to respond to it and put appropriate peer pressure—men to men—to do the right thing.”
- Related: “Dean Hedges shares his personal story about surviving domestic violence,” October 6, 2015
- JABSOM video: “UH Medical school dean delivers a speech after successful 2015 Men’s March Against Domestic Violence,” October 10, 2015
At the march, the Distinguished Citizen Award was given to Salvatore Lanzilotti, special assistant to the Kapiʻolani CC chancellor. At the presentation, Nanci Kriedman, CEO of the Domestic Violence Action Center thanked Lanzilotti for co-founding of the Men’s March Against Violence 21 years ago. During his remarks, Lanzilotti, thanked, amongst others, Chancellor Richards for creating a safe campus by establishing the Kapiʻolani CC Violence Prevention Task Force and for supporting the vice chancellor of student services’ efforts to ensure that the provisions of the Violence Against Women Act and Title IX are implemented.
There was a large sea of UH Mānoa green at the event. The UH Mānoa contingent came from units including athletics, student housing, human resources, the law and medical schools, College of Natural Sciences, Office of Title IX, Pau Violence, gender equity, graduate education, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, public safety, Outreach College, College of Education and Chancellor’s Office.
Said Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman, “We are extremely proud that UH Mānoa had such a major presence in the Men’s March. It demonstrates that our students, employees and leaders are committed to eliminating violence, both on campus and throughout our community. The show of solidarity was deeply moving.”
About the Men’s March Against Violence
The annual event is held in memory of those who have suffered injuries and lost their lives to domestic violence. The mission of the Men’s March Against Violence is to end domestic violence throughout Hawaiʻi and to address the issue as it affects communities and families. Every October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the Men’s March seeks to bring together everyone that is opposed to violence against women and children.
The march is annually sponsored by the Catholic Charities of Hawaiʻi, the City and County of Honolulu, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaiʻi State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Kapiʻolani Community College, PACT and PHOCUSED.
For more photos of the event, see the John A. Burns School of Medicine or the UH Mānoa Flickr album.
—Story compiled from John A. Burns School of Medicine and UH Mānoa stories
