The Clothesline Project

Supporting survivors of violence

This month, Mt. Hood has displayed decorated T-shirts in the Library lobby as participation in the nationwide Clothesline Project. Though these shirts may seem to be simply an expression of art, it’s also a way for those affected by violence to speak out against their abusers anonymously.

The first Clothesline Project event was hosted by the Cape Cod’s Women Defense Agenda in 1990 after a member discovered that while 58,000 soldiers lost their lives in the Vietnam War, 51,000 women also lost their lives during those same years to their partners, spouses, and friends.

Photograph by Catherine Green

Rachel Carey-Harper, a visual artist, originally came up with the idea of hanging color-coded T-shirts in public to bring attention to the tragedies of women losing their lives in domestic violence. This evolved later to include the broadcasting of coded sounds periodically to represent every time certain violent crimes are committed in America.

Today, hundreds of colleges and public organizations participate in the Clothesline Project every October to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“It gives domestic violence survivors and gender violence survivors a voice,” said Cherilyn Nederhiser, Public Safety Lead Officer and organizer of Mt. Hood’s Clothesline Project display. “Not only an opportunity to be heard, but to be seen. We run it to encourage those who are experiencing or someone who knows someone else who’s experiencing domestic violence to seek help because help is out there,” she said.

Personally, the Clothesline Project has a special place in my heart.

I’ve participated in the Clothesline Project every year since I was 16. Its not something I’d say I celebrate, but its something that needs to be talked about. The more people talk about it, the more survivors will realize that they aren’t alone and that there are resources for those going through it. Every year I become more willing to share more of my story, and I hope that one day someone looks at my T-shirt and it makes them decide to get help.

Resources are available for those who are struggling with these things, often more than most know. For me, it was a teacher who’d gone through the same thing, noticing the signs and sharing her story with me. For others, the push could come from a family member, a friend, or even the school newspaper.

If you or a loved one is suffering from domestic, gender, sexual, or racial violence, please see the resources below to get help.

National Domestic Violence Hotline:

(800) 799-7233

Call to Safety Multnomah County Domestic and Sexual Violence Crisis Line: 

(503) 235-5333

Línea UNICA Línea de Crisis de Violencia Domestica y Sexual del Condado de Multnomah:

(503) 232-4448

The Trevor Project: 

(866) 488-7386

Mt. Hood Community College Public Safety: 

[email protected]  

(503) 491-7310 Room AC2330

Mt. Hood Community College Basic Needs: 

[email protected] (503) 491-7081

Mt. Hood Community College Counseling and Mental Health Services: 

[email protected] 

(503) 491-7432  Room AC1152

Siobhan Kuhlmann