I was cutting across UCLA campus on Thursday when I spotted five or six clotheslines haphazardly strung from tree to tree with a-couple-of-dozen t-shirts flapping in the breeze on 'em with thought-provoking messages etched upon their faces.
HD Video (below)
A student holding vigile explained that the "Clothesline Project" is a non-partisan student organization which was established to raise awareness about the mulitiple and intersecting forms of sexual voilence in the community.
"Making a T-shirt is part of the healing process for survivors."
According to the non-profit group, for Survivors of sex crimes, actions taken like the one on the UCLA campus amount to a brave step towards speaking out about their sexual histories.
Essentially, the courageous act is intended to "break the silence".
In addition, family and friends of victims (who died as a result of sexual assault) may create a "shirt" in memory of their loved ones who fell victim to the atrocious sexual acts.
The Clothesline Project shirts are color-coded to represent the types of sexual violence that are ongoing daily in various communities around the country.
White, for instance, is "In Memory" of a loved one who was murdered as a result of sexual, domestic, or gender-based violence.
Red or Pink puts the spotlight on survivors of rape or sexual assault.
Individuals who were assaulted because of their sexuality or gender (who were attacked because they were perceived as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex) are represented by the color purple.
Victims of incest and child sexual abuse are generally represented by blue or green hues.
According to staggering statistics:
*Every 2.5 minutes, there is a sexual assault (U.S. Dept. of Justice).
*1/3 of all females are forced into their 1st sex experience (WHO).
*1 of 16 rapists will spend a day in jail for their crime (RAINN)
*1 in 4 women experience sexual violence by a partner (WHO).
*1 in every 10 rape victims are Male (RAINN).
To get involved with the Clothesline project:
Clothesline.ucla@gmail.com
HD Video capture by Julian Ayrs
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