HYANNIS – Independence House, in collaboration with Cape Cod Community College’s Mankind Project hosted a Men’s March yesterday in Hyannis.
Since 2015, The March has served as a fundraiser, with marchers asked to donate 20 dollars to Independence House.
It also functions as a kickoff event for the organization’s domestic violence month programming that will continue throughout October.
“The March is to bring together men and start conversations about what we can do to be part of the solution in ending domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Brian Renard, Chairman for the March and member of the Mankind Project.
“We want to have a strong show of organized groups, offering men who don’t otherwise connect, opportunities to be part of healthy community organizations.”
Organizers describe the event is a social action to be part of the solution in ending violence against women. The March is designed to show solidarity with victims of abuse and encourage men to take the lead when it comes to ending intimate partner violence.
“Men in our culture largely don’t have the experience of healthy male community. Many men don’t know how they fit in, they feel disconnected from themselves and each other … and so what we get is what we see in the news every day,” said Boysen Hodgson, Director of Marketing and Communication for the ManKind Project.
“The good news is that growing numbers of men are doing the hard personal and societal work needed to end the violence that unhealthy masculinity promotes. At the ManKind Project, we support men in healing themselves, and we stand up as partners to help change our culture.”
Though billed as a Men’s March, yesterday’s event included a large contingent of women as they walked from the Federated Church in Hyannis, down Main Street and back again.
In preparation for the event, Independence House reached out to individual men, businesses, civic organizations, police, fire, houses of worship, and clubs to take part.
Once the marching had come to an end, participants were treated to a small really with guest speakers and refreshments.
By DAVID BEATTY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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