Amador County – Remembering Domestic Violence Awareness Month began last week when Operation Care started its education and awareness “Purple People Campaign” and placed 125 purple silhouettes at Sutter Creek Gateway Park.

The 125 cutouts, which show children running in play and adults in different stances, plus another 25 at businesses equals 50 percent of the 300 victims of violence in Amador County who were helped by Operation Care in 2009-2010.

The group placed the life-sized purple people at the corner of Old Highway 49 and the 49 Bypass on Sutter Hill. Sutter Creek City Manager Sean Rabe and Police Chief Brian Klier had planned to assess whether the 125 purple people would affect traffic.

Tammie Crabtree, interim executive director of Operation Care, said she and city officials would stay at the intersection after the installation to observe any adverse affects on vehicle traffic on the two roads. The silhouettes remained at the intersection Saturday.

Crabtree said if they needed to be moved, she would again place the purple people in parks around the county, as had been done in the previous three years of the Purple People Campaign.

The life-sized cutouts are made of plastic corrugated boards, designed and cut out by Kam Merzlak of Merzlak Signs. The Purple People will stand in the park and at businesses until Oct. 31.

Operation Care’s office will also have a 3-D exhibit, Oct. 3-14. The walk-through exhibit called the “Cycle of Violence” will show visitors the three phases of domestic violence, Crabtree said. They will give out 200 T-shirts with the slogan: “Peace begins at home,” at the two high schools, and 100 shirts for donations.

Operation Care was founded in 1980 and offers support services, crisis intervention, and education to people in Amador County who have been victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.