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Candlelight vigil held to remember victims, survivors of domestic violence

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — People came together Thursday night to raise awareness of domestic violence.

A candlelight vigil was held to honor victims and survivors.

Advocates wanted victims to know "that they are represented, there is a voice and that voice is going to continue to speak until we can reduce domestic violence to a zero percentage," said the Rev. Glencie Thedrick, organizer of the vigil at Beatties Ford Road Regional Library.

The vigil focused on victims and survivors.

"As a survivor, I'm one of the blessed ones to still be here to share my story and to educate others about domestic violence," said Yolanda Walton.

Walton, a survivor of domestic abuse, wants the public to become more educated.

There have been 47 domestic related homicides in North Carolina this year; five were in Charlotte.

Last year saw 73 domestic-violence-related deaths.

Last month, Eyewitness News was inside the new Mecklenburg County domestic violence shelter under construction. It will increase capacity from 29 beds to 80 when it opens in December.