In honor of National Crime Victims Rights Week, the Clothesline Project, a series of T-shirts made by victims of sexual and domestic violence, will be displayed at the Ping Center through Thursday.
The Clothesline Project is a month-long exhibit in Athens, Hocking and Vinton counties sponsored by My Sisters Place and the Sexual Assault Survivor Advocacy Program, a non-profit agency operated through the Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling Services.
Victims and family and friends of victims, including many Ohio University students, made the 150 T-shirts on display.
They are a way for the victim to show what they went through in a creative way
said Tara Love, core advocate for My Sisters Place, an emergency shelter for victims of family violence.
April 18 marked the 24th commemoration of National Crime Victims Rights Week.
According to a news release, the Athens County Commissioners presented My Sisters Place and the Athens County Victims Assistance Program with a proclamation to recognize the week in Athens. The Athens County Victims Assistance Program is an agency run through the office of Athens County Prosecuting Attorney C. David Warren.
Victims have a lot of rights right now said Angela Garber, a volunteer at the Sexual Assault Survivor Advocacy Program and a student at Hocking College. They didn't have that back in the '70s.
Garber, a former victim of sexual and domestic violence, said creating the T-shirts is a good healing process for victims and they bring knowledge to the public.
You go to battle you've been wounded
you've got a permanent scar. That scar will always be there but it heals
she said, You can never forget it
but you can forgive.
Garber said she hopes the program will continue to build awareness of sexual assault in Athens County, especially on the college campuses. She said she will make a T-shirt next year.
It's a way of publicizing without actually having to give your name
she said.
Jody Rowe, coordinator for the Survivor Advocacy Program, said she saw a woman at a previous exhibit who was only able to read six of the shirts. The woman walked away with tears in her eyes, Rowe said.
They're very powerful
said Rowe.
Jessica Olsheski, an OU senior and volunteer for the Survivor Advocacy Program saw the shirts last year.
It's very courageous
she said. You're revisiting their experience.
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