
News

Why is the church illuminated in purple light??
October 18, 2025
This is part of a local campaign to raise awareness about domestic violence here in Massachusetts and around the country, as part of the Domestic Violence Roundtable’s Purple Lights Campaign. It is inspired by the heart-breaking story of Lauren Dunne-Astley.
The color purple is often associated with courage, compassion, survival, honor, and hope. It is also the color recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which takes place each October.
During this month, domestic violence service providers use the color purple to raise awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence and the 2-3 women and girls who are murdered each day in the U.S. within intimate relationships, the 15-19 such victims a year in Massachusetts, and many more facing abuse of many kinds.
Some people in witness and protest wear purple clothing, attach a purple pin, or tie a purple ribbon around a tree. Since 2017, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable, in collaboration with the Lauren Dunne-Astley Memorial Fund and First Parish in Wayland’s Lydia Maria Child Fund have gone beyond that action.
They first lit several faith and public buildings in Sudbury, Wayland, Lincoln, and Framingham in purple. Some of you may have seen them. First Parish Church in Weston is the first building in Weston to participate.
The dramatic display honors those lost to domestic violence and brings awareness to the community that domestic violence has no borders.
There are three main ways to participate in the purple lights campaign. Those representing Public Buildings and Faith Communities may request to participate by emailing The Domestic Violence Round Table at infodvrt@gmail.com. Local businesses can join in by adding their own purple lights. Homeowners may also take part by installing purple bulbs in their door and porch lights and their lampposts. Both Ace Hardware, Wayland, and Aubuchon Hardware, Sudbury, are stocking purple bulbs.
Let’s light up our towns, stand with survivors of domestic violence and their families, and support preventive programs!
For more information on this program and to learn more about Lauren Dunne-Astley go to the foundation’s website: https://LaurenDunneAstleyMemorialFund.org