The box of tiny, battery-operated candles went fast, as more than 200 people streamed into the homey headquarters of the Covina Woman's Club last week for a vigil protesting domestic violence.
Visitors filed past a table lined with brochures about domestic violence programs. Then they faced a giant photo collage of Monica Thomas-Harris, an Upland mother of two, who was killed last month by her estranged husband. The killing generated headlines because it occurred after he was released from jail to get his "affairs in order" before beginning a prison term for terrorizing her.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday, February 20, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 36 words Type of Material: Correction
Domestic violence: Sandy Banks' column in Tuesday's California section on a domestic violence vigil referred to a shelter for abused women as being run by the YMCA. It is operated by the San Gabriel Valley YWCA.
Monica's friends and family filled most of the chairs on one side of the hall. Across the aisle were dozens of elderly women with purple ribbons -- symbolizing bruises left by a batterer -- pinned to their chests.
The family's pastor prayed; Monica's father, sister and daughter shared pleasant memories, and more than 20 visitors lined up to speak.
"It's not a dirty little secret anymore," a former police officer told the crowd. "Open your eyes, watch out for your daughters."
A counselor from a battered-women's shelter reminded the crowd that "we all have a Monica in our lives."
I tried to connect the speakers to the groups listed as sponsors -- the YMCA's battered-women's shelter; Cal Poly Pomona's Stop Violence project; the National Organization for Women; Delta Kappa Gamma teachers' sorority; Republican Women Federated; and 28 other women's clubs in the San Gabriel Valley.
Leading the unlikely alliance, the 110-year-old Covina Woman's Club. Motto: Gently to hear -- Kindly to judge.
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When I hear "woman's club" I think old ladies with tight perms and expensive jewelry, more comfortable planning a luncheon menu than raising a ruckus over domestic abuse.
I said as much to Covina Woman's Club Vice President Kim Plater. She laughed. The average age of her club's members "is probably mid-70s," she said. "We have one who's 55, and one who's 60. . . . We also have one who joined the club in 1925."
They're not "just making centerpieces for luncheons," she said. "Though I'm very involved in that." Their bake sales and fashion shows raise money to buy library books and fund music scholarships, help battered-women's shelters and homeless programs.
This year, the club has taken on domestic violence. And with its president and vice president both retired cops, the hearing and judging are neither gentle nor kind.
