Ladyfest, a music festival that benefits an Island domestic violence prevention program, received Oak Bluffs select board approval after an organizer promised to keep the festival smaller than years past.

Connect to End Violence wants to get a key message out to the Island: “We are here.”

Vineyard men of all ages lined the seawall in Vineyard Haven Saturday afternoon to take a stand against domestic violence in the Island’s ninth annual demonstration, marking a pandemic milestone for the community.

Opposing all violence on Martha's Vineyard, the annual men's demonstration at the Vineyard Haven seawall takes place Sunday.

Stay-at-home orders now in effect Islandwide are posing are new risks for people stuck at home with a physically or emotionally abusive partner.

Island men took a stand along the Vineyard Haven seawall Saturday afternoon in the eighth annual demonstration against domestic violence. The event was organized by Connect to End Violence, a program of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.

Asked about the hundreds of domestic disturbance complaints they respond to each year, Island police were in agreement: it’s not an easy call.

Connect to End Violence makes contact with hundreds of community members every year through prevention, education and outreach events.