by Yvonne Simmons

Regional Clothesline Project

Aug. 26, 2006 Display of t-shirts created by or for women who have been victims or survivors of violence. Terry Shrunk Plaza SW 3rd and 4th on Madison Noon-6 p.m. Rachel Carey-Harper, a Cape Cod artist who created the project will speak at the event. “Building a violence-free society is no more radical than the industrial revolution,” says Rachel. Shirts and paints will be available for women to create a shirt. All other Clothesline Projects are welcome to participate and bring their shirts. Call Yvonne at 503-288-8958 or e-mail roweenayvonne {[at]}yahoo.com.

Women’s Equality Day, Aug. 26, 1920, was the day that women in the U.S. got the vote. On this day 15 years ago, the Portland Clothesline Project was initiated, sponsored by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. The Clothesline Project demonstrates the prevalence of violence against women with a visual impact similar to the AIDS quilt or the Vietnam Memorial. The Clothesline gives every woman a voice and a place to be heard. Creating and viewing the Clothesline helps survivors on their journey of healing, raises awareness, creates dialogue, and works toward ending the violence against women. You cannot tell who made the shirts.

It crosses all boundaries: class, color, age and ethnic group. There are many cities and towns across the nation which have a Clothesline Project to display. It is a truly grassroots movement that educates and helps women heal.

Sometimes shocking to see, the project displays the courage of women in our violent society and helps celebrate our growth to peace and freedom.

Some of Portland’s shirts were taken to England to initiate the project there.

Under siege during the civil war in Sarajevo, I introduced a clothesline workshop to Bosnian women where shirts were made with the daily noise of bombs and snipers in the background.

A human clothesline held the shirts in the Oregon Legislature while (then) Senator Trish Brown spoke eloquently about domestic violence in Oregon. Displays are usually outdoors where the wind helps to blow away the pain and pictured anguish. This violence shapes the whole lives of women. Excuses are made for terrible violence. There are no excuses.