The Clothesline Project: Domestic violence survivors air families' dirty laundry on T-shirts

SALT LAKE CITY — Hung one after another on regular clotheslines, the T-shirts sported messages that were anything but regular. One by one, each recounted a troubling sentiment, a bitter expression or a statement of hope.

The "Clothesline Project" on display Monday in the Capitol Rotunda showcased more than 100 T-shirts decorated by victims and survivors of domestic violence.

The display was sponsored by the Salt Lake Area Domestic Violence Coalition and the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office.

"I think it's very touching," said Anna Leigh, a former Utahn now living in Evanston, Wyo., who was visiting. "It really made me want to cry. I talked to one of the ladies (who had decorated a T-shirt), and she said how therapeutic it is. It's like airing out all the dirty laundry. It's a bold statement."

Some T-shirts reflected rage, including a bitter "Thanks, Dad" letter outlining how many times a girl had seen her mother beaten and how terrified the child was. "I was afraid to sleep, to live, to breathe, all I did was cry and hide under the bed."

Another spelled out a similar sentiment: "To my Mom, You are my hero for standing up to Dad when he would punch us. But I'm sorry that you had to be the punching bag."

Some contained messages from children to abusive parents, mothers and fathers alike, including one child who stated angrily to a mother who apparently was verbally abusive: "3.97 GPA — that's my new name now. You can take the other one and shove it up your (expletive deleted)."

Most were messages about men roughing up women, including a Onesie that stated, "Daddy hurts Mommy." But one man wrote of the slaps and punches he had endured from a woman. "To be abused by your wife is extremely humiliating and lonely. I hate that I love her."

Observer Erika England of Salt Lake City noted that she saw a great deal of anger being expressed, which was good, but she wondered aloud about channeling that energy into healing.

"I think it's really sad this is going on everywhere and it's ignored," England said.

She did see some T-shirts that expressed hope, however. One T-shirt said, "He almost won. Thank God he didn't. I'm still here."

Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller termed domestic violence a heart-rending problem that has repercussions that extend far beyond one relationship.