Domestic violence survivors hold Valentine’s Day March

Originally published in the Sun Journal

February 18, 2025

Christine Buckley of Hope crosses Lisbon Street in the Finding Our Voices domestic abuse-survivor march in downtown Lewiston on Valentine’s Day. Patrisha McLean

Finding Our Voices painted Lewiston yellow with messages about what is and is not love.

Less than a year ago, Nicole Bernhardt told a jury in Augusta that the father of her two small boys “tried to crush my throat and rip it out.” (He was sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempted murder.)

On Valentine’s Day, with her children in tow, she joined 15 fellow domestic abuse survivors in a Finding Our Voices march in downtown Lewiston. The group was dressed in layers of yellow, the color of Finding Our Voices, holding handmade signs educating the public about what is and is not love, according to a news release from Patrisha McLea, Finding Our Voices CEO and Founder.

Nicole’s sign said: “Roses are red. Domestic Violence is wrong. We are survivors. United we’re strong.”

The group gathered from as far as York and Camden in the second Finding Our Voices domestic violence educational march of the year. On Jan. 9, the group was in Sanford on the day that Lucas Lanigan, that town’s state representative, was indicted on domestic violence charges for allegedly strangling his wife. He had been re-elected just weeks after the arrest.

Feb. 14’s Lewiston march included taping up the nonprofit’s trademark posters in a number of business windows. The posters feature the photo portraits of 50 Maine survivors, including Gov. Janet Mills and three women who were marching that day.

At Forage, Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline, stands with Patrisha McLean, CEO and founder of Finding Our Voices, left, and Dezarae Caron with her Finding Our Voices poster. Dezarae runs the nail salon Nail Junkee in Auburn. Patrisha McLean

Laudan Ghayebi with her Finding Our Voices domestic abuse awareness poster at Simone’s Hot Dog Stand. The restaurant also put a large Finding Our Voices poster in its outside window. Patrisha McLean