For the third year, hundreds of T-shirts will silently tell the stories of survivors of violence and abuse at New Mexico State University. The "Clothesline Project" will create awareness and insight into the lived experiences of survivors with a public display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the third-floor ballroom in Corbett Center. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

NMSU's event, created by the Department of Criminal Justice, is among many activities across Las Cruces recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

"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 project. "'Clothesline Project' aims to amplify the voices of those survivors through their displays and challenge the stereotypes and stigmas surrounding victimization."

The "Clothesline Project" is an interactive exhibit displaying t-shirts with powerful messages and illustrations to raise awareness about the impact of violence and abuse. With anonymous stories written about numerous forms of interpersonal violence, the shirts in the display are color coded with 11 distinct 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.

"We hope to create a safe space for dialogue, support, and healing, ultimately empowering students to speak out against violence and advocate for change," Cho said. "The event serves to educate our community about the prevalence and impact of violence and abuse and foster positive cultural change on campus."

NMSU's "Clothesline Project" has grown since 2022, attracting more than 1,000 students and visitors to the exhibition and honoring the thoughts and feelings of survivors on nearly 250 t-shirts.

Local law enforcement agencies, victim advocacy groups, and several departments at NMSU also participate in the event with informational tables sharing information with visitors. Earlier this year, NMSU's "Clothesline Project" t-shirts from last October were displayed at Las Cruces City Hall, the Government Center, the Las Cruces Police Department, and the Plaza de Las Cruces.

Cho plans to continue expanding the impact of the event within the NMSU community and across the broader Las Cruces community. Resources for survivors are available at https://ohp.nmsu.edu/  or call 575-646-2813. Learn more about The "Clothesline Project" at https://www.theclotheslineproject.org/

The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-s-third-annual--clothesline-project--brings-awareness-of-violence-and-abuse/s/e132bd62-c1de-4029-8d98-be8fee577a6d?CP=1