Mesquite to celebrate National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

By BRIAN CORNETT

The Progress

The week of April 18-24 is National Crime Victims’ Rights week and the City of Mesquite will be celebrating with several community activities.

The community events will begin on Monday, Apr. 19 with a commemoration of the advancement of victims’ rights Ribbon Ceremony from 10 am to noon at the Mesquite Welcome Center located at 450 N Sandhill Blvd. A brief kick-off presentation will feature an address by Kathleen Bienenstein, program coordinator of Nevada Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

The theme for this year’s celebration is “Support Victims. Build Trust. Engage Communities.” This theme is meant to celebrate the contributions every citizen can make toward building trust in the community’s capacity to support the victims of crime.

The National Crime Victims’ Rights Week aims to honor individual victims or crimes as well as the groups engaged in building networks of support and understanding.

Throughout the week, colored ribbons representing different crimes will be displayed. For example, blue represents Human Trafficking; purple represents Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse; Dark Blue, Child Abuse; Teal, Rape and Sexual Assault and Women Murdered by Domestic Violence; Red, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Victims of DUI; Orange, October 1 Route 91 Shooting and Teen Dating Violence; White, Hate Crimes; and Red White and Blue, Crimes against those who serve in uniform.
On Monday, appropriately colored ribbons will be available to participants who would like to honor a crime victim by writing their name on it and attaching it to a display board at the Welcome Center. Ribbons will be available all week for this purpose.

A decorating contest will be held throughout the week. The public is encouraged to decorate businesses, homes and vehicles appropriately and submit pictures to advocates@mesquitenv.gov for entry into the contest. Three entries will be chosen at random. Winners will be announced at the end of the week when prizes will be awarded.

Mesquite Victim Advocates will be distributing information at various locations during the week. They will be at the Pop-up Pantry in Moapa Valley and Mesquite and at the Mesquite Senior Center.
The Senior Center staff will also add victims’ rights color-themed treats to the drive-thru lunches throughout the week.

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is supported by the Office for Victims of Crime which leads communities throughout the country in their annual observances promoting victim’s rights.