By Alaina Denean Deshazo
The Selma Times-Journal

In America, one woman is fatally shot by a spouse, ex-spouse or dating partner every 14 hours, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Thursday night, members of the community gathered together to show their support for the victims of domestic violence.

Capt. Mike Granthum with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department said domestic violence in Selma and Dallas County is a cycle that needs to be broken.

“I’ve been in it for 20 plus years, and I’ve seen where the mother has been a victim of domestic violence or the father was the abuser or even vice versa, then now the kids are at the age where they’re 17, 18 20 years old and now they’re doing the same thing,” Granthum said. “We’ve got to break the cycle.”

SABRA Sanctuary executive director Nancy Travis said events like Thursdays are to let people know that SABRA exists, and to let victims know that there are people there to help.

“Tonight, we honor our victims and celebrate our survivors for Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” Travis said. “We just want everybody to know that SABRA Sanctuary is here for domestic violence victims and their children, and we have a safe place for you to go when home is not safe anymore.”

At the vigil, a woman spoke about her experience with domestic violence. She also talked about SABRA and how thankful she is for the women there that work tirelessly to help her and others like her.

“I didn’t know that I was in domestic violence, until I was in domestic violence. It’s hard, day by day, trying to get by and having to look back over and over the things, and … move forward in life and try to put myself back together,” she said. “I just didn’t understand why, why people want to abuse women. I just thank the people that support me and help me to get through my times.”

Granthum has seen domestic violence cases for years, working with mothers, children and men who have all been abused.

“Working in law enforcement, you see how it tears not just the mother up, but the kids. That’s what my heart bleeds for. The kids have to witness all this,” Granthum said. “[The victims] have nowhere to go. If it wasn’t for SABRA Sanctuary, they would be on the street or continue being abused day in and day out.”

Anyone needing assistance can call the domestic violence hotline at 1-800-650-6522. Someone is available 24 hours a day to aid those in need.