A bright yellow T-shirt hung silently at last year’s “Project Clothesline” event at New Mexico State University. The tiny words “I wasn’t heard,” written in marker, spoke loudly not only for one survivor of domestic violence, but for all those who read her message.
Hundreds of people saw those words and other messages written by abuse survivors on more than 100 other tee shirts at 2022’s “Project Clothesline” display at NMSU. This year, the event is among many activities across Las Cruces recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.
NMSU’s Department of Criminal Justice is hosting “Project Clothesline” again. More than 100 T-shirts with personal messages written by survivors will hang on clothesline strung across the room for visitors to view from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 in the Aggie Lounge on the first floor of the Corbett Center. 12 local agencies and with campus organizations will have tables at the event to answer questions and provide resources for those who visit.
“This is a unique platform to share their survival stories and understand the prevalence of violence and abuse,” said Ahram Cho, criminal justice professor and organizer of the event. “One of the most common pieces of feedback I received from last year's event was that students thought they were the only ones. The event serves to create a sense of solidarity and a safe environment for students to raise their voices.”
The Office of Health Promotion (OHP) under the Aggie Health and Wellness Center at NMSU is cohosting the “Clothesline Project” this year. OHP is a risk-reduction and prevention program that educates on issues of personal safety and well-being.
The “Clothesline Project” is an interactive exhibit, displaying anonymous stories of many forms of interpersonal violence. The displayed tee shirts are color coded with 11 different colors: yellow representing domestic violence and assault; red, pink and orange represent survivors of rape and sexual assault; blue and green represent survivors of incest and sexual abuse; and white represents someone who died because of violence.
The purpose of the project is to increase awareness of the impact of violence and abuse, to honor a survivor's strength to continue and to provide another avenue for them to break the silence that often surrounds their experience. Cho has seen the project raise awareness among students who want to help.
“It was a very rewarding experience as I noticed that more students started considering victim advocates as a future career option after the event,” Cho said. “The majority of criminal justice students are interested in going into law enforcement, border patrol and all different law enforcement sectors, but since last year I have encountered many students interested in becoming victim advocates as they recognize the needs and power of support for victims of crime.”
Dennis Giever, department head and criminal justice professor, hopes to grow the display and share the tee shirt exhibit with other organizations in Las Cruces.
“We're hoping that the tee shirts we keep every year can at some point become a traveling display in local businesses, city hall or somewhere else in town to make a broader audience aware of it,” Giever said.
“Victims are willing to stand together to support each other and the rest of us have to join and stand beside them.”
Resources for survivors are available at ohp.nmsu.edu or call 575-646-2813.
For more information, visit theclotheslineproject.org.
