 It was a statewide day of action as Minnesotans rallied together against domestic violence. Josh Peterson was at Bemidji City Hall where supporters gathered and heard from special guest speakers. If we are to end domestic and sexual violence in our communities, we must first recognize victim survivors. We must listen, we must learn, and we must believe. All across the state, those seeking to stand up against domestic violence gathered to reflect on the lives lost and look forward to action needing to be taken. The Northwoods Better Woman shelter hosted the rally where attendees got to hear from multiple speakers. It is a statewide community awareness event that is bringing domestic violence to light as a problem in society. During the rally, Bemidji Police Chief Mike Mastin read the names of 24 victims of domestic violence while their picture was shown on a screen. A powerful reminder that the victims represent everyone. They are our family members, our friends, and our co-workers, our neighbors. They are people we love, people we may not know but say hello to at the gas station or at the grocery store. They are us. Karen Stish spoke of her sister who was a victim. She says domestic violence could happen anywhere, especially in places you would least expect We need to be aware and educated because, like I said before, it can be anywhere. I think sometimes we take for granted that it's in other places, but it can be right next door. The rally was not only a time to reflect but also a time to take action by showing support for proposed legislation. Audience members received these we-believe postcards which they filled out during the rally to show support for domestic violence legislation. It has to do with some other legislative asks that we feel really impact people who are experiencing domestic violence and it impacts the people who commit domestic violence. Throughout the rally, the message of the day was to believe and listen to survivors and make positive change in our communities. In Bemidji, Josh Peterson, Lakeland News. A similar rally against domestic violence was held today at the state capitol in St. Paul. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.