Students march against violence

Hopwood Junior High School students aired their message loud and clear yesterday when they took to the streets of San Antonio to seek an end to the escalating violence in the community.

Twelve-year-old Mary Lou Gariguez, a member of the HJHS marching band, said playing her musical instrument as the hour-long parade made its way through the San Antonio Village was her way of expressing opposition to mounting violence directed at children.

“Violence should stop. To all the people, please let’s stop child abuse. We should instill discipline in children but first and foremost, let’s love the them,” said Ms. Gariguez.

Dina Palacios, one of over a hundred students who joined yesterday’s protest, also called for the immediate end to all forms of abuse and violence.

“The message that we are trying to get across is that violence should be stopped because it’s really hurting children and families,” said the 12-year-old girl.

The march against violence was also a first step toward creating stronger community ties, according to Hopwood teacher Sam Joyner, organizer of the youth rally.

“Recognizing that children are a very significant part of our future, it’s about time that we take this march together so the future generations are spared from domestic and other forms of violence,” said Mr. Joyner.

The march was only a first among a series of other rallies the youth group has planned for the year.

In November, Mr. Joyner disclosed plans to hold an island unity march, a gathering of parents, teachers, students, and community members taking a stand against pressing social issues. A drug-free march is also envisioned to take place in December.

In CNMI, cases of family violence had increased in 1999 with over 461 individuals recorded as primary victims and 411 as secondary victims, usually children.

Chamorros still top the list of ethnic groups with a total of 530 victims while Filipinos place second with 210 cases during the period.

The Division of Family Court recorded about 432 temporary restraining orders issued on civil protection cases and 427 temporary restraining orders on criminal domestic violence cases between 1997 and 1999.

The Attorney General’s Office filed 236 domestic violence cases before the Superior Court last year. The cases filed, however, do not include the number of complaints reported to the Department of Public Safety.

In 1999, DPS received a total of 989 domestic and family violence complaints. In the first quarter of this year, some 166 complaints have been lodged with the DPS.