April is National Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Women’s Services and Gender Resources are trying to raise awareness in the community and on campus. “It is important that we break the silence and begin supporting sexual violence survivors, holding perpetrators accountable and preventing sexual violence from happening.”
In order to promote awareness and foster the survival of victims, the NH Clothesline Project has been brought to PSC as a part of Stop the Violence Week. The NH Clothesline Project is an international effort to combat domestic and sexual violence. The purpose of this project is to encourage survivors, to aid in the healing process, to promote awareness and to provide a network of support. The Clothesline is “a visual display that bears witness to violence. During the public display, a clothesline is hung with shirts. Each shirt is decorated to represent a particular person’s experience, by the survivors themselves or someone who cares about them.” Fifty handmade shirts line the balcony and staircase of the fireplace lounge in the HUB.
The shirts are color coded to represent different aspects of sexual and domestic violence. White stands for death and general stop the violence, Pink or Red for sexual violence, Green for racial discrimination, Purple for gay discrimination, Yellow for domestic violence and Blue for child abuse and incest. One white shirt reads “We’re not gonna take it.” A pink shirt bears the message “Listen and you will hear my cries and screams of the past ten years.” These shirts were most likely made by victims, but some have been made by friends of victims hoping the empower survivors and other would-be victims. Some of these shirts read, “You are not alone,” “You can make it stop…we’re here to help you,” and “We are not weak! You are.”
The Clothesline Project was not the only event sponsored for Stop the Violence Week. On Wednesday April 23rd, Judy Shepard shared her experience of losing her son to a hate crime in front of a sold out crowd. Thursday was a day full of workshops. Topics included body image, breaking the silence, educating the public, equality and respect, and non-violent action. Friday April 25th will feature the 1st Annual Clothesline Concert sponsored by Women’s Services and Gender Resources, The Wellness Center and Sodexho. This concert will feature four bands including Abe and Crystal Gravy and will take place in the Snack Bar in the HUB from 12-4 p.m. It will help support the Stop the Violence Campaign while having some fun. There will be free ice cream and prizes.
There are centers all around the state which offer support to victims of domestic or sexual abuse, their partners, family and friends. Whatever the circumstances, whether the assault was recently or years ago, regardless of who the perpetrator was, or where the assault happened, help is available.
The Center for Women’s Services and Gender Resources provides several programs for survivors and their friends such as crisis services, educational programming and workshops. The center recognizes the forms of social injustice and violence that arise in the community, communicates about the problems to promote change, respects and defends the right to be individuals and listens to and helps victims.
Voices Against Violence based out of Plymouth serves eighteen towns throughout the region. This organization provides information and support, a 24-hour hotline (536-1659), court advocacy, emergency shelter, support groups, and educational programs.
The New Hampshire Clothesline Project is sponsored by AmeriCorps Victim Assistance Program (AVAP) which assists and supports survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence and their children in Crisis Centers and Police Departments/Prosecutors Offices throughout the state. AVAP is one of six AmeriCorps programs in N.H.