Madison Reporter

MADISON, WI – A group of local Latinos, moved by recent tragic events, has organized an event through Madison Public Library’s Library Takeover program to address domestic violence in the Latino community. The event, titled "Red Heels: Steps Toward Justice," will be held on Saturday, September 14 from 10 am to 12 pm at Central Library.

The organizing team consists of Gladys Viscarra, Malena Matos, and Dante Viscarra. Both Gladys and Dante are associated with La Comunidad News ONLINE, a digital newspaper serving Wisconsin’s LatinX community. They were involved in covering the story of Micaela Juárez Ocolt, a local Latina businesswoman murdered inside her store last April. Her husband was investigated as the main suspect in what is referred to as feminicidio within the LatinX community.

“We responded to a flood of calls and concerns from the Latino community following the coverage of Micaela’s case,” said Dante. “We know this is a big issue within our community, and we want to help stop this from happening again. We need to bring domestic violence out of the shadows and start talking about it, as well as providing support for women in these situations. That’s the main reason we wanted to create this event.”

The conference will feature a keynote address by Dra. Lucía Melgar, a cultural critic and professor of Literature and Gender Studies with extensive research on feminicide and violence against women in Mexico. Melgar holds a PhD in Hispanic Literature and an MA in History from the University of Chicago.

Red Heels: Steps Toward Justice will also offer support, information, and resources provided by local agencies rooted in Madison.

Event Timeline:

- 10-11 am: Welcome and Breakfast. Coffee and donuts will be served.

- 11 am - 12 pm: Keynote Presentation by Dra. Lucía Melgar followed by Q&A.

The event is open to the public; attendees are encouraged to wear red heels as a symbol of solidarity. Registration can be done online at madpl.org/redheels.

“Together, we can make strides towards ending the violence and fostering a community where every life is valued and protected,” said Gladys Viscarra.

Library Takeover is funded by Madison Public Library Foundation and TruStage.

Madison Public Library has been promoting education, literacy, and community involvement for nearly 150 years. Visit them online at www.madisonpubliclibrary.org or @madisonpubliclibrary on Facebook and Instagram.

Library Takeover supports teams in planning community events with resources including space, budget funds, stipends for team members, and mentorship from local experts.

TRIGGER WARNING: The topics discussed may include stalking or harassment, domestic physical abuse, graphic violence, sexual assault, and death.