Clothesline Project raises public awareness

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ty-Rico Lea
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Each October, the Tyndall Family Advocacy Program is charged with implementing awareness projects to place a special emphasis on domestic violence prevention. 

This year, in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a clothesline has been placed at the Base Exchange to offer those impacted by abuse a chance to heal, share their message about their experience and educate the remainder of the community about this global issue.

The clothesline features t-shirts that have been painted by Airmen and family members assigned to Tyndall.

In 1990, to address this issue of domestic violence, a program was started in Cape Cod, Mass. that became known as The Clothesline Project. The CLP is a visual display that calls attention to the violence and acts as a vehicle for those affected by it to express their emotions by decorating a shirt. The shirts are designed by survivors of violence, family, friends and victims of violence and those wanting to raise awareness, who hang these shirts side-by-side to "Break the Silence."

"The project focuses on educating the public about violence and providing solutions through individual action to prevent violence," said Michelle Lasater, Family Advocacy Program outreach manager. "With the support of many, it has spread world-wide."

It is estimated that there are 500 projects nationally and internationally, with an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 shirts, in 41 states and 5 countries, said Lasater.

The CLP t-shirts consist of several colors that represent different types of victimization through violence:
- White represents victims who died because of violence
- Yellow or Beige represents battered or assaulted victims
- Red, Pink, and Orange are for survivors of rape and sexual assault
- Blue and Green represent survivors of incest and sexual abuse
- Purple or Lavender represents individuals attacked because of their sexual orientation

"I think it's great that the Air Force devotes an entire month to the issue of domestic violence," said Senior Airman Jennifer Jobe, 325th Maintenance Squadron munition controller. "Raising awareness of the issue is one of the best ways to prevent it from continuing. Domestic violence creates delicate situations that people don't necessarily like to talk about, but bringing it up even once a year can enable those who need the help to receive it."

Domestic Violence Awareness month is not only centered around one certain group of people.

"In keeping with current trends, our project serves as a memorial to all victims of intimate partner violence," said Lasater. "Intimate partner violence victims cover the spectrum of age, race, religion, culture, income and education, and although the original project was about women, over time it has been shown that domestic violence is a much larger issue that is not exclusive to one gender."

In an effort to reach a wide audience, Family Advocacy partnered with other base agencies and community entities to help spread this message.  Floral arrangements bearing this year's theme, "Keep Calm and Stop Domestic Violence," are placed at Tyndall Federal Credit Union and Horizons Community Center luncheon buffet tables. 

"According to the National Coalition of Domestic Violence, one in four women and one in nine men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Domestic violence harms more women than diabetes, lung cancer or stroke," said Lasater. "Sadly, the Air Force experiences domestic violence related fatalities each year. Although a low number in comparison to national statistics, those deaths affect many airmen and families."

Although October calls for a concentrated effort to educate the community, the Family Advocacy Program provides programs in an effort to promote awareness for non-violent communities, and enhance our populations' knowledge and personal strengths for building and maintaining Airmen and family wellness.

"Many individuals think that someone has to be experiencing abuse to utilize our program," said Lasater. "Even though we offer specialized services for individuals facing an abusive situation, we also offer ongoing support to our families as they transition through key phases of life, such as dating, marriage, becoming a new parent and during a time of loss."

A victim advocate for domestic abuse, who provides individualized services for adults who are in an abusive relationship, is also available. The victim advocate can be contacted 24/7 by calling (850) 532-6162, and can assist with safety planning and restricted reporting, as well as provide ongoing support for the duration of the needs identified.  All prevention services are confidential and open to TRICARE beneficiaries.