T-shirts with a message

Clothesline Project on display in Malvern through Sunday

By Elizabeth Pannell

LITTLE ROCK — On June 26, 2005, Janet Smith’s world came to a halt as she learned about the death of her daughter Brandy. Brandy’s death was a result of domestic violence.

Since her daughter’s death, Janet has become an advocate against domestic violence. She has helped women escape from abusive husbands and boyfriends, and Smith will speak at Friday’s candlelight vigil as part of the Clothesline Project and Silent Witness Project in Malvern.

Hot Spring County’s only domestic violence shelter, The Smith House Shelter, is sponsoring the traveling exhibit beginning at 3 p.m. Friday at the Malvern City Park. The Arkansas Clothesline Project displays shirts decorated with written messages and illustrations that graphically represent each victim’s lethal experience with domestic violence. New shirts are added each year.

Robin Freeman, a member of The Smith House Shelter board of directors, said the purpose of the event is to draw awareness to The Smith House and domestic violence.

“This display shows the impact of domestic violence not only in our area, but in the entire state,” Freeman said.

Another part of the display is the Arkansas Silent Witness Project. It’s a vigil honoring domestic violence victims who lost their lives in the previous year. Life-size red figures represent women who were murdered by their husbands, ex-husbands, boyfriends or ex-boyfriends are displayed to share the victims’ stories. It includes 18 figures - 17 for the known victims and one to represent all unknown victims of domestic violence.

The candlelight vigil on Friday will feature presentations from local officials, including County Judge Bill Scrimshire, and Smith will speak as well.

“I am going to tell a little about what happened to my daughter,” Smith said. “She was shot by her ex-husband and was later let out on bail after his arrest. While he was out on bail he fled the country.”

Smith said she would also talk about things that victims of domestic violence can do to leave an abusive relationship safely.

Since her daughter’s death Smith said she “wants to see legislation to keep men like my daughter’s ex-husband behind bars until their trial.”

“There is a point when some are just too dangerous to be out in public,” Smith said. “I know it’s an option that they are jailed without bail, and I think they should be.”

Smith said the display is essential to the community because “people that have been affected by domesticviolence can help the one’s that have not been able to escape.”

“These men are terrorists,” Smith said. “We need to make every opportunity available for victims to get information. Most of the time they are held captive in their own homes, and they need to have an easy way to get information, like TV commercials.”

Smith’s daughter was a mother of three, and “it’s hard to see Brandy’s children grow up without their parents,” she said.

“This is not going to end for them; it’s always a continuing conversation,” Smith said. “I want to be that person to help that one woman leave and send them on another path.”

On Saturday there will be a resource fair at the park along with the clothesline event. Local social service agencies are invited to participate by providing information booths.

Freeman said several area churches have been asked to use Sunday as a day of reflection and to pray for victims of domestic violence.

“We have also asked them to take up an offering for victims of domestic violence,” Freeman said.

The Smith House, which can accommodate three families (women and their children), provides information about breaking the cycle of violence, supports victims through collaboration with community organizations and provides a safe and secure place to redirect family life. For more information call The Smith House at (501) 332-2555.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STATISTICS

◊ Worldwide, one-third of women will be raped, beaten or mutliated in their lifetime.

◊In 2005, Arkansas had 26 domestic-violence murders.

◊Nationally, in the past six years, Arkansas has ranked consistently in the top 10 for domestic violence.

◊Women who leave their batterers are at a 75 percent greater risk of being killed by the batterer than those who stay.

◊On average, it takes a battered woman seven times to leave her abuser.

◊Eighty-five percent of women in substanceabuse programs are victims of domestic violence.

(Source: Women’s Shelter of Central Arkansas)

Tri-Lakes, Pages 66, 70 on 10/02/2008