October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and one local group honored victims with a candlelight vigil.
Participants also hoped to raise awareness of an issue that cuts across all socioeconomic lines.
According to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, Georgia ranks 10th in the nation for its rate of men killing women.
In 2010, domestic violence agencies took more than 71,000 crisis calls in the state.
The same year, more than 7,500 victims and children sought refuge in domestic violence shelters in Georgia. And there were 130 deaths related to domestic violence in Georgia in 2010.
The theme of tonight's event was "No More Sheets."
Survivors, fighters, and supporters came out to raise their voices against domestic violence. Speakers used numbers and poets used spoken word to kick off the event.
Advocacy group, Violence Intervention and Prevention, hosted a Silent Witness Exhibit and Candlelight vigil to remember victims and encourage survivors.
"I'm here to lend a voice, stand in for the ones that have been silenced, to let people know that this is real," says VIP advocate Charisse Parker.
Four wooden figures represents a person who died from domestic violence. Each shawl represents comfort and healing for those who won the fight. According to the national Coalition against domestic violence 85-percent of victims are women.
"I was in a relationship for many years with a man and it became abusive. It became verbally, physically, emotionally abusive. And it took a long time before I could get out of it," says survivor Taquila Thomas.
Thomas proudly wears the purple ribbon. She says she hopes her story will help those suffering know that they aren't alone.
"I'm not judging them. Everybody's story is different and it's going to happen in their own time. But when they feel that urge it's time to go, to listen to their inner voice because it usually never steers you wrong and to go to find some safety somewhere, someone," she says.
Experts say most cases of abuse are never reported to the police.
Several agencies are available to help victims of domestic violence in Central Georgia including Crisis Line and Safe House. Their 24-hour crisis hotline number is 478-745-9292.