Clothesline Project Cultivates Awareness of Domestic Violence in the Territory

A message condemning domestic violence in the U.S. Virgin Islands was strung from the central pillars in Tutu Park Mall in St. Thomas on Saturday, fluttering in the breeze, commemorating the 260 islanders in the last decade who have died because of it.

The Department of Veteran Affairs partnered with the Family Resource Center to host the project in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, using handmade T-shirts strung on a line to get the message across, coupled with a booth providing literature and resources.

“The Clothesline Project is a visual display of violence statistics that often go ignored,” the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Muria Nisbett said.

The display boasted 60 shirts designed by members of the community, each carrying a unique and poignant message. Some were direct, “Hands are not for hitting,” while others were more personal, “My womb is the stargate between the physical world and the spirit world. Respect it. Respect me! #4thebabies #stoptheviolence.”

Nisbett said each shirt was made by a survivor of violence or “by someone who has lost a loved one to violence, or by members of the community who want to help end domestic violence.”

This is the first time the entities have partnered for the project, but the history behind the display extends back to 1990 in Hyannis, Massachusetts.