Tammy Davis, left, and Kelly Blankenship, right, both from Butler, joined several advocacy groups at noon, Wed. April 10 for "Walk Out Wednesday" in support of victims rights.

A dozen women gathered in Diamond Park at noon Wednesday to participate in Walkout Wednesday.

The event was organized as part of National Crimes Victims’ Rights Week by the victims witness unit of the district attorney’s office, Victim Outreach Intervention Center, Neighborhood Legal Services and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The women walked north on Main Street and south back to Diamond Park carrying signs that read “We support victims of crimes” or “Victims have a voice.”

The event was meant to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services, highlight local programs and celebrate progress in services for victims and professionals in the field.

Gloria Armstrong, systems advocate supervisor at VOICe, said in many violent crimes, the focus is on the rights of the offender and not the victim or witnesses who cooperate with police.

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