For the seventh year in a row Tuesday, hundreds of women marched down the Grand Concourse against domestic violence.
Some marchers wore wedding dresses to honor the memory of a Dominican woman named Gladys Ricart. Her ex-boyfriend, Agustin Garcia, was convicted of fatally shooting Ricart on her wedding day in 1999.
Organizers say the march, which started in 2001, is meant to encourage Latin and other women in abusive relationships to seek help. Ricart's relatives say they participate in the NYC Annual Brides' March Against Domestic Violence to ensure no other women will ever suffer the same fate.
According to Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrión Jr., 71 New Yorkers were victims of domestic abuse last year. The walk comes ahead of Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
Anyone needing information about agencies that assist domestic violence victims can contact the city's 311 hotline or call Safe Horizon at 1-800-621-4673.