HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Mayor Tommy Battle has proclaimed October 2026 Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Huntsville, joining the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Greater Huntsville Area Chapter, and partners in a campaign to support survivors and prevent abuse.
Signed Oct. 5, the proclamation recognizes “Paint Purple with Purpose,” an initiative encouraging residents, businesses, civic organizations, municipal departments, and military communities to turn awareness into support and action.
The proclamation calls on people throughout Huntsville and Madison County to recognize signs of abuse, use available resources, and support victims and survivors. It also emphasizes that domestic violence affects people across racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds, threatening the safety and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
For the coalition and its partners, the campaign connects a public observance with crisis response work, including answering crisis calls, providing shelter, helping families plan for safety, and offering advocacy and support. The campaign article describes the effort as a commitment to building a community where abuse is recognized, and survivors receive assistance.
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Greater Huntsville Area Chapter, is leading the campaign alongside the Huntsville Police Department, Redstone Arsenal’s Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Program, Advocacy Family Network, Crisis Services of North Alabama and the National Children’s Advocacy Center.
Together, the proclamation and campaign article describe a network bringing law enforcement, advocacy, shelter, counseling, and support to adults and children affected by domestic abuse. Their shared message is that responding to violence requires community-wide participation, not the work of one organization.
The need for collective action is urgent. A 2025 Dothan planning document, citing the Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence, reports that nearly half of the women murdered in Alabama between 2020 and 2022 were victims of domestic violence. The finding reinforces the campaign’s emphasis on survivor support and prevention.
The proclamation recognizes the Huntsville Police Department’s role as a first responder to domestic violence, linking emergency response to the community assistance network.
Military families are central to the campaign. The proclamation identifies Redstone Arsenal’s Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Program, known as DAVA, as a source of specialized support for families experiencing domestic stress, trauma, or intimate partner violence.
The document notes that Redstone Arsenal serves a military-connected population, including active-duty service members, Department of Defense civilian personnel and contractors, and military retiree families. Including military communities in the campaign underscores the need to connect families with assistance suited to their circumstances.
Local resources are ready to help. Crisis Services of North Alabama operates the HOPE Place emergency shelter, while the National Children’s Advocacy Center and Advocacy Family Network help families navigate trauma, crisis, and justice systems. Through Redstone Arsenal’s DAVA Program, military families confronting domestic stress, trauma, or intimate partner violence can receive specialized assistance.
These resources make the campaign’s call to action more than a request to display a color. The materials encourage residents to learn about available assistance, share trusted resources, and respond to survivors with compassion rather than judgment.
Throughout October, residents can participate by wearing purple, displaying purple ribbons, and attending educational activities. Businesses, offices, and public spaces are encouraged to use purple lighting, while civic groups and other organizations can help spread the campaign’s message.
Purple serves as a visible reminder of the campaign’s goals: honoring survivors, remembering victims, recognizing abuse and promoting a community free from domestic violence. The proclamation extends that responsibility to homes, workplaces, military installations, and neighborhoods.
The accompanying article also calls for a rejection of silence surrounding abuse. It emphasizes collective action that supports survivors and makes local help visible to people who may need it.
Battle’s proclamation, issued alongside the Huntsville City Council and community partners, asks residents to join “Paint Purple with Purpose” initiatives and stand united against domestic violence.
For the Greater Huntsville Area Chapter and the participating organizations, October offers an opportunity to connect awareness with practical support. Their campaign invites people across Huntsville and Madison County to contribute, whether through education, resource sharing or public participation.
This campaign is more than a symbolic observance. It is a public commitment to honor survivors, remember victims, and promote zero tolerance for domestic violence in homes, workplaces, military installations, and neighborhoods. Huntsville and Madison County can send a powerful message this October: no survivor stands alone, and every person can help build a safer community.
