Silent Witnesses, including children, all of whom were designed to honor victims of domestic violence. Photo by Emma Curry.
By Maddie Gerber
Hometown Weekly Intern
From November 5-11, a series of human silhouettes lined the steps of the town hall, their figures casting shadows upon the slabs of granite. These cardboard cutouts, known as the Silent Witnesses, were erected by Needham High’s Take Back The Night (TBTN) club, an organization dedicated to ending sexual violence. Each figure represented a local victim of domestic violence and included their name and story, not only to spread awareness, but also to emphasize the effects of domestic violence on our community in particular.
According to Alex Goodale, a junior at NHS and one of the co-chairs of TBTN, the club purposefully chose to highlight victims from Massachusetts to “send a message that domestic violence is around us, and it doesn't just cause psychological harm. It can be deadly.” The title “Silent Witness” is meant to signify how these individuals have had their voices silenced by domestic violence. According to Goodale, this message aligns closely with the club’s overall mission, which is to “give a voice to those who don’t have one.”
Take Back The Night is a national foundation dedicated to ending all forms of sexual violence, including domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual abuse. Needham High School’s chapter of the organization has been active for over two decades, working to bring the foundation’s mission to life in our town. They do this primarily through an annual event in November, where domestic violence survivors, other guests speak, and musical groups from the high school perform. There is also a raffle which allows the club to raise money for the larger foundation. While this event is a fall highlight at NHS, unfortunately, due to COVID, it just wasn’t feasible this year, forcing the club to adapt to the current circumstances.
The Silent Witness display was a prelude to a later event that the club hopes to host over Zoom in February, which will look more like their typical November program. However, members hope that the display helped prompt conversations and raise awareness among the Needham community, while also showing support for those who have struggled and continue to struggle with domestic violence.
Helpful resources: Needham Police (1-781-455-7570); Needham Health Division (1-781-455-790, x217); REACH Beyond Domestic Violence (24 hours) (1-800-899-4000); Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham (1-781-453-5400); Elder Abuse Hotline 1-800-922-2275); Center at the Heights (Needham Social Workers) (1-781-455-7555); Riverside Mental Health (1-800-529-5077); Safelink (free cell phone service) (1-877-785-2020); Dove - Domestic Violence End (24 hours) (1-617-471-1234); Journey to Safety (available in English and Russian) (1-781-693-1213); Child Assault Prevention Program (CAP) cnemtzow@needhamcommunitycouncil.org.
