‘You are not alone’: CEI event gives voice to survivors of violence

IDAHO FALLS — An annual tradition at the College of Eastern Idaho brought together students, community members, and survivors of violence for a three-day event.

CEI hosted the sixth annual Clothesline Project this week to raise awareness of abuse, remember those lost to violence and show support for survivors.

“The Clothesline Project is a moving and visible display that gives voice to survivors of interpersonal violence and abuse,” Julie McMurtrey, associate dean of student care, said in a news release about the event.

Those in attendance wore one of seven different colored shirts. Each one was created during the event and had artwork and a personal message for those impacted by violence in different ways. Here’s what each color represented:

• White: In memory of someone who died due to violence.
• Yellow: Survivors of physical assault or domestic violence.
• Purple: Those attacked because of their sexual orientation.
• Blue or green: Survivors of incest or childhood sexual abuse.
• Brown or gray: Survivors of emotional, spiritual or verbal abuse.
• Orange, pink or red: Survivors of rape or sexual assault.
• Black: Those disabled as a result of an attack or assaulted because of a disability.

Together, the shirts encouraged visitors to reflect on the impact of violence on individuals, families and the broader community. The overall message to survivors or those suffering in silence was “You are not alone.”

“Each shirt tells a story. Together, they represent resilience, courage, healing, and hope. As we gather here at CEI, we do so with respect for those stories and for the individuals behind them,” McMurtrey says in the release.

The shirt display was inspired by the AIDS quilt, which debuted in October 1990 in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Thirty-one shirts with personal messages were displayed as part of that event.

The shirts at CEI were displayed in the cafeteria from Oct. 20-22 and included a luncheon and program on Oct. 21.