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Gen. Mike Minihan, Commander of Air Mobility Command, visits the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station June 8, 2024.

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Members participate in Clothesline Project

  • Published
  • By Peter Borys
  • 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NIAGARA FALLS, ARS NY --  April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and members of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and their dependents were encouraged to participate in the Clothesline Project recently held during the lunch hour here.

This nationwide project brings awareness to those who have been touched in some way by sexual assault and what is being done to end it.

In its third year at Niagara Falls ARS Ms. Jennifer Wiese, a Readjustment Counselor at the Buffalo Veterans Center and a traditional reservist at the 914th Aero medical Staging Squadron for behavioral health explained the project is based on what women used to do many years ago in New York City. They passed messages on a clothesline back and forth between buildings.

"That's how women would communicate especially in cases of domestic violence," said Wiese. "There's a long history here. The movement is taking clothes, T-shirts, jeans, etc. and putting a message on it, whatever you want to express about sexual assault. Victims can put on very personal messages about their experience, their recovery and others who have been touched in some other way."

Some nationwide statistics; one in four women and one in ten men have experienced sexual assault.

"Sexual assault is probably the most preventable crime," stressed Wiese. "When someone does experience sexual assault it affects every facet of their life. How they view themselves, how they view others, how they view the world. Everything changes. So, this is just really giving a voice to the cause and doing it in a powerful way."

Ms. Nikki Slaughter, 914th Airlift Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, explained that some of last year's designs were on display to help inspire volunteers in case they needed ideas.

"When finished we will put them up on display on an actual clothesline for the remainder of April at the base Community Activities Center," said Slaughter. "After the shirts come down they can wear it if they like." People were encouraged to bring in their own t-shirts but some were on hand as well as the supplies to make the designs, according to Slaughter.

One of the T-shirt designers, Mr. Murray Taylor, 914th Airlift Wing Contract Specialist, was there to support the cause. He was making a T-shirt for his daughter to wear to school to help spread the word further to the younger generation.

"I think young girls and boys need to know there's a program out there that gives them great advice on how to handle certain situations with things that may happen to them," said Taylor.

For more information on Sexual Assault Awareness visit www.sapr.mil or call Nikki Slaughter at 716-236-2576.