There’s no excuse for abuse.

That was the overriding message delivered at a recent rally to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Dozens of students and community members gathered at the “You Don’t Own Me!” rally Wednesday, sponsored by REACH of Haywood County at Haywood Community College.

The campus was the perfect place to host the rally to remind young people that domestic violence can begin in the early stages of dating, said Buffy Queen, community educator for REACH.

"Dating abuse, which is often a precursor to domestic violence, is an issue that impacts many student's lives," Queen said. "Statistics show this is the most vulnerable population — young people from 15 to 24 are the most likely to have dating violence in their lives."

And in Haywood County, Suzie Pressley, domestic ...