Silent March

Since 2005, Manavi has commemorated Domestic Violence Awareness Month with its annual Silent March. The event is part of a tradition that stems from the Day of Unity which was first observed in October 1981, and became a month-long event in 1987. Manavi staff, founding members and volunteers come together and march in silence with banners and placards showing their unified belief that love does not translate into violence, and to raise awareness about the prevalence of violence against women in the South Asian community. The silent march is an excellent platform for members of the community to show their support and solidarity for ending violence against women.

Silent March 2011:

Manavi will hold its seventh annual Silent March on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 4 p.m. Participants will assemble at the intersection of Oak Tree Road and Middlesex Avenue in Iselin, NJ. Silent March participants, including women's rights activists and members of the South Asian community across New Jersey, will march with signs stating, "You have the right to live safely in your own home," and, "There is no excuse for domestic violence," among others in a variety of South Asian languages, including Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, Telegu and Urdu. Manavi volunteers will also hand out flyers detailing Manavi's services.