The Orange County Clothesline Project stopped by Fullerton College to give victims a chance to speak out against their abuser.

Some shirts had expressions with statements such as, “don’t be afraid to leave a coward”, “this isn’t over yet, I am a FIGHTER”, “when I say ‘stop’, you NEED to stop”, while others were dedicated to those who had lost their lives due to sexual abuse or domestic violence.

Shirts were various colors – orange, red, pink, blue, green, grey, purple, black, yellow and white, categorizing which kind of crime the victim experienced.

Red, orange and pink represented rapes or sexual assaults. Blue and green stood for child sexual abuse. Gray indicated human trafficking. Cases of sexual harassment were black, while yellow meant domestic violence. White t-shirts were homicide cases.

Beverly Falco, Community Services Programs (CSP) worker, shed some light on the issue and why it’s important that other schools have the chance to experience The Clothesline Project.

“We’re not necessarily aware of everything that’s going on…There’s a stigma that ‘everything’s perfect’ or ‘that would never happen’,” Falco said. “Seeing it [the shirts] brings more awareness.”

Falco estimated about 500 t-shirts were displayed on campus and 30 of them were made throughout the day.

“We had about 2,000 victims come to the crisis center last year,” Falco said.

CSP includes Sexual Assault Victim and Prevention Resources where certified sexual assault counselors are able to respond 24/7 through a rape crisis hotline, police departments and hospitals, along with two rape crisis services. Those who are victims of rape, sexual assaults, sexual abuse as a child and their family members are provided with comprehensive and confidential services.

If anyone is interested in becoming a sexual assault counselor, training is offered.

The 24-hour crisis hotline can be reached at 714-957-2737 and CSP can be contacted at 714-834-4317. To find out more information on resources provided for sexual assault, go to cspinc.org.