Stories told by T-shirts Clothesline project marks Denim Day

Aurora Ramirez aramirez.roundupnews@gmail.com

Victims of sexual assault and their friends told their stories through T-shirts displayed on the Mall on Denim Day, a day to show support to those who have suffered or encountered sexual harassment.

“We’re here to bring awareness to sexual assault, and we have banded together to wear jeans as a statement on Denim Day,” Health Center intern Andrea Evangelista said. Colorful T-shirts were provided April 25 to students who wanted to share their assault story - whether it is a rape, sexual assault, or harassment - with their peers to demonstrate that such things can happen to anyone.

Once finished writing on a T-shirt, students were able to hang their decorated T-shirts on a line dry position with many others that decorated the Mall.

fields for the reenactment McBroom said. They also set up perimeters for each campsite.

But battlefields and artillery fire was not the only thing happening at the Heritage Day’s reenactment. An authentic Civil War era dancing was also hosted. Ginger Alberti, a local dance instructor and seamstress, led the dancing. She also sat in a booth during the day with old hand crank sowing machines, giving demonstrations and selling machines.

“The boys like to play Cowboys and Indians and the girls like the dresses,” Alberti said.

The heat of the day and the sound of traffic in the distance didn’t take anything away from the experience, Alberti said.

She spoke fondly of how those who participate really took to the characters they played even to the point of taking on the mannerisms of those times.

“I only wish there were more living history,” Alberti said. “Everyone comes out to see the cannons but there is much more to see.”

The event hosted an estimated 250 participants and several thousand spectators, according to McBroom.