Linda King talking with audience members
The Clothes Line Project is a week long event to educate students on abuse. Tuesday October 19th, guest speaker and president of the organization Fix the Hurt, Linda King, presented information on dating/domestic abuse. The event was held in Trinity Lounge to an audience of about 30 girls. Linda started her presentation by telling us about her daughter Lisa, a fatal victim of domestic abuse.
Linda posted a picture of Lisa as she told her story. Lisa was a sophomore in an Idaho college when she met her abuser Sam. Despite Sam’s bad past, Lisa justified their relationship as a means to change him. As time went on, Sam emotionally and physically abused Lisa. He also manipulated her to use drugs to lose weight. Eventually they got married and then divorced. After, Lisa joined her parents as they moved to Texas.
On July 1st 2001, Sam showed up and begged Lisa to come back. A month later, Lisa was back with Sam and back on drugs. On August 31st Linda’s last words to her daughter were, “I love you too. Be safe.” The next day, Lisa’s brother called Linda and told her Lisa had been killed.
After Linda finished her story, she put on a short video clip that documented her efforts to get justice on behalf of her daughter.
She educated the audience on the facts and myths of domestic violence, as well as the appropriate way to help an abused friend. One of the facts mentioned was one out of three gir
ls in the room would be a victim of dating/domestic abuse. Several hands went up amongst the audience admitting they knew a friend who was abused.
The event concluded with two role playing scenarios. The first was an abused victim who cried out for help and was rejected by several people, including friends, family and religious leaders. The second scenario was the opposite, where the victim was met with appropriate services and support.
A few girls shared their opinions on the night.
“I think it’s really ironic that it’s her daughter’s birthday today. That kind of hit me more than anything else. She had the courage to come up here and stand up and speak on what she’s passionate about,” freshman applied health major, Christa Estrada said.
Freshman Jennifer Nicholas commented on what she learned from the night. “When you talk to [an abused friend], don’t try and pull them out of it. Don’t show judgment, be their support.”
If you want to learn more about Linda’s organization visit the website www.helpfixthehurt.org.