Teen event shines spotlight on dating violence
Published 11:53 pm Tuesday, March 25, 2025
- Pictured, from left, Warren County Board of Supervisors President Kelle Barfield, City of Vicksburg Ward 1 Alderman TJ Mayfield and Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace listen to guest speakers during Saturday’s event. (Photo courtesy of VTV)
The Stomping Out Teen Dating Violence held Saturday at Washington Street Park drew a crowd for performers and guest speakers working to shine a light on teen dating violence and bring awareness to the often-overlooked struggle.
Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace served as one of Saturday’s many guest speakers and said violence that occurs between teenagers who are dating is often not just overlooked, but many times is never reported at all.
“Seven-to-10 percent of teen homicides are related to domestic assaults that are never even reported,” Pace said. “It’s one of the crimes that goes unreported more often than it goes reported. And it’s so sad when you see this as a cycle.”
Included in Saturday’s lineup were Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr., Ward 1 Alderman TJ Mayfield and more, while youth groups from around the area performed.
Saturday’s western-themed event was sponsored by the City of Vicksburg, Haven House Family Shelter, the Mississippi CASA Program and the Vicksburg-Warren Youth Development Center.