The Clothesline Project

The Clothesline Project originated in Hyannis, Massachusetts in 1990 when
members of Cape Cod’s Women’s Defense Agenda learned that during the same time 58,000 soldiers were killed in the Vietnam War, 51,000 U.S. women were killed by the men who claimed to love them. The Clothesline is made up of t-shirts created by survivors of violence, or created in honor of someone who has experienced
violence. It is a powerful witness of the violence many live with. The project began with 31 shirts.

The mission of The Clothesline Project is to educate students and the
community that violence is a problem everywhere, help is available, there is hope and a path to healing.

The Clothesline Project provides evidence that incest, domestic violence, and sexual violence exists in our communities. It is a visual reminder of statistics that we often ignore. It gives a voice to those who have been forcibly silenced. Most importantly, this project provides survivors with a venue to courageously break the silence and make us aware. This Clothesline Project is a tribute to them.