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On 24 March, the Zonta Club of Anchorage, Alaksa, USA, held a “Choose Respect March” to show their community that Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women.

Read more from youralaskalink.com:

People alike marched through downtown Anchorage to help end violence against women and girls.

Dozens of people came out today to show their support for “Zonta” an international program aimed at ending domestic abuse.

Your Alaska Link spoke with the president of the anchorage chapter, Shelli Cutting, who talked a little bit about the march.

“We’re having the “Choose Respect March” to show the community that we stand together to end violence in our community.”

According to Zonta’s website, about thirty-percent of women report that they have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence by their partner.

“One of our biggest emphasis is on ending violence” says Shelli Cutting.

Many stood strong outside during the rally holding these signs, saying “stop sexual violence against women” and “Zonta says no.”

One woman spoke about her friend that was a victim of violence against women…. She told of the night she was at that friend’s house and the friends husband showed up.

“he chased her down, and killed her, shot her in the back of the head as she was trying to escape the house.”

The group not only works to raise awareness across communities everywhere.

They also want to improve laws surrounding woman’s rights.

These shirts hang as part of the t-shirt project to also help fight violence against women.

I found out some of these shirts were created by woman in the anchorage corrections department.

Debbie Graham says she has been with Zonta for more than twenty years.

Graham says if you see abuse or if you are being abused, to tell someone, and reach out for help.

“To tell someone, to speak to someone, to let them know, so that they can have someone to stand beside them… Even if your too afraid to go to a shelter or what have you, just let somebody know” says Graham.