The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes — The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Gender Violence and Sexual Assault event — literally takes participants on a one-mile walk to reflect on and raise awareness of domestic violence.
When Friends Against Abuse, the local crisis prevention center that hosts the event, was considering where to hold the walk in the event of rain, organizers were reminded: victims of domestic violence don’t get a rain day.
“So even though it is raining and snowing, we will walk anyway,” said LeeAnn Meer, executive director of Friends Against Abuse, to a crowd of about 90 people Wednesday.
This year marked the third time the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event made its way to International Falls. Meer had nothing but positive things to say of Wednesday’s event.
“Despite the weather, I’m really pleased with the turnout,” she said.
People of all ages bundled up to participate in the walk and Meer said several Rainy River Community College students and athletes came to show their support as well as slip on a pair of red high heels for the walk.
“We had a couple young men walk in those high heels,” she said. “We would never expect them to do that, but they did it.”
Meer said it is when the younger generation steps up to make a difference, is when domestic violence and abuse will stop.
“I always tell young people, ‘We need you guys and we need you now,’” Meer said. “When the younger people step up, it is my greatest hope that change will happen. Involvement is going to end (violence).”
