An army of different colored shirts hung on Mississippi State University’s Drill Field this week showing support to victims of unwarranted violence.
The Clothesline Project is an annual event promoting public awareness and support for victims of sexual violence. Sponsored by MSU’s Department of Health and Wellness, the Clothesline Project is a national effort to support abuse survivors. MSU has hosted the event since the late 1990s.
The Clothesline Project was started to bear witness to the survivors as well as the victims of sexual violence. The shirts educate, document and raise society’s awareness of abuse. It also shows the amount of support available, along with encouragement and information. The Clothesline Project is a nationwide symbol of healing.
“It’s important to feel you can talk to people,” said Emily Davis, volunteer for MSU Clothesline Project. “Interaction helps you recover.”
The Clothesline Project originated in Hyannis, Massachusetts in 1990 by the Women’s Defense Agenda of Cape Cod. The WDACC created the Clothesline Project to raise awareness about the appalling violence against women. They uncovered the startling fact that 51,000 American women were killed by their significant others from 1955 to 1975. They compared that number to the 58,000 soldiers who died in the Vietnam War over the same duration. The project began with only 31 shirts.
Shirts are available in a variety of colors, each with its own meaning. Yellow depicts men or women or have been assaulted. Red, pink and orange are representative of victims of rape or sexual assault. Blue and green depict men and women affected by incest or child sexual abuse. Purple is for those who have been attacked because of their sexual identity, and black for those abused because of political reasons.
Sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes due to a stigma associated with it. By creating a supportive and welcoming environment, people who feel like they are in danger will be able to reach out for help.
The Clothesline Project took place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 26 to 28 at MSU. Students and faculty had the opportunity to design a shirt reflecting personal experiences or honoring of a friend or family member affected by violence.  
One participant, Hasna Khandekar, said, “You don’t know what everyone is going through. This shows to never judge a book by its cover.”
After the three-day display is over, the Department of Health and Wellness will store all the shirts. The designs return to the Drill Field every year. Every shirt is anonymous and no one can identify the shirt’s artist.
“We are promoting a safe place for individuals who don’t have a voice to speak up and tell their story,” said Magnolia Allen, a coordinator of MSU’s Clothesline Project. “This project really shows that here at MSU, we are family.”