Monday afternoon 150 blue pinwheels were placed in front of Selma City Hall, each one representing a child that was abused in Selma and Dallas County in 2016 for National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Last year’s number of cases was down from 2015’s 241 cases, according to Lauri Cothran, executive director of the Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center. The center investigates child abuse cases and helps victims, and it also aims to raise awareness. According to the Nation Children’s Alliance, nearly 700,000 children are abused in the United States every year, which is astounding number. We applaud the effort the Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center is doing in Selma and Dallas County as well as the other counties the center serves. We hope next year the number of pinwheels placed in front of city hall is even less, as the center raises awareness for it. No one should be abused, especially children.

With so many children being abused, it is important that people learn the signs of abuse. Recognizing that a child is in an abusive situation could save their life. More than 1,500 children died in 2014 from child abuse in the United States, according to Alabama Court Appointed Child Advocates. We hope to see that number go down, as organizations like the Central Alabama Regional Child Advocacy Center do work in the community to inform people about the issue.