Purple lights are glowing near the Burlington Town Common through the end of October 2026 for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a local tradition now in its 14th year. Alongside the display, the Burlington Police Department is reminding residents that domestic violence often goes unseen and that help in Burlington can start with a single phone call or conversation.
Key facts: domestic violence help in Burlington
- Emergency: call or text 911.
- REACH Beyond Domestic Violence (local, 24/7): 800-899-4000.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233.
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673.
- Local referrals: Burlington Police can connect residents with Burlington Youth and Family Services and domestic violence advocates.
Why the Town Common is purple this month
Each October for the past 14 years, purple lights have lit the bushes near the Town Common, according to a town news post published Oct. 16, 2026. The town describes the color as a symbol of support for survivors, remembrance of people who lost their lives to domestic violence and a reminder that help is available. The lights stay on throughout October.
Warning signs, according to Burlington Police
For the town’s post, staff spoke with Detective Brittany Zaccagnini, who investigates domestic violence and sexual assault cases for the Burlington Police Department’s Detective Unit. “Many people associate domestic violence with physical violence, but abuse can also be verbal, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse as well,” Zaccagnini said. “The abuse usually involves a consistent pattern of control, fear or intimidation from a partner or a family member.”
The town lists examples of controlling behavior: a partner who constantly checks someone’s phone, monitors their location, restricts their access to money or discourages relationships with friends and family. “Other warning signs can include constant criticism, insults, manipulation or threats to undermine a person’s confidence or sense of self-worth,” Zaccagnini said.
Why asking for help is not simple
The town’s post notes that leaving an abusive relationship is rarely a straightforward decision. A person may fear retaliation, depend on a partner financially, worry about their children, fear they will not be believed or feel family or cultural pressure to stay. Abuse also often builds gradually, which can make the pattern hard to recognize.
“In my experience, a victim’s first contact with police rarely occurs after the first incident of domestic violence. Often, there is a much longer history of abuse,” Zaccagnini said. The town encourages friends and neighbors to focus on listening and offering support rather than asking why someone has not left or reported abuse.
What support looks like
Zaccagnini works with victims, families, advocates, prosecutors and other agencies to investigate cases, gather evidence and connect people with services. She said seeking help does not have to mean immediate legal action. “It can begin with a conversation, learning about available options or connecting with an advocate,” she said. Depending on a person’s situation, the town says support can include safety planning, shelter assistance, counseling, legal resources or help with financial concerns. Additional resources exist for older adults, people with disabilities and families who need specialized help.
The regional agency serving Burlington is REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, based in Waltham. Its free, confidential hotline at 800-899-4000 runs 24 hours a day, with staff who speak English and Spanish, and it can arrange safety planning, shelter, advocacy, support groups, legal help and therapy for children and teens, according to the organization. REACH lists Burlington among the 27 communities its community and prevention programs serve, along with nearby towns including Bedford, Billerica, Lexington, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn.
Beyond October
The town says the message behind the lights applies year-round: domestic violence can affect people of every background, age and circumstance, and knowing the signs and where to turn are ways to help. For more on what is happening in town, read our Burlington, MA fall news roundup and our guide to Burlington Public Schools, which lists school contacts for families.
If you are in immediate danger, call or text 911.
Sources
- Town of Burlington: Shining a Light on Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Burlington (Oct. 16, 2026)
- REACH Beyond Domestic Violence: Support and hotline
- REACH Beyond Domestic Violence: How We Work (communities served)
Additional sources
- Mass.gov: REACH Beyond Domestic Violence listing
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- RAINN: National Sexual Assault Hotline
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