By Diamond Hillyer
More than 500 red quilts were sprawled across the Towson University campus lawn last week as a testament to those who have survived rape, abuse and exploitation.
Photo by Diamond Hillyer
The Monument Quilt, which has been displayed in 17 cities nationwide and has traveled as far west as South Dakota, is designed to give a voice to those who have experienced sexual assault.
Each of the quilts 550 sections features a quote, a message to a rapist, a piece of artwork, graphics and even the clothes worn by a person during an attack.
“I still remember vividly the sensation of your cold, wet hand covering my mouth,” reads one floral quilt, centered with the bold text. Others said, “Strength,” “We will stand with you,” “I am a rape survivor,” and “My rapist gave me this necklace.”
Organizers of the event hope the collection of stories from thousands of rape and sexual assault victims will raise awareness and help victims heal.
“The Monument Quilt creates a culture of understanding and respect,” said Mahnoor Ahmed , a member of the Center for Student Diversity at Towson. “In addition to creating awareness for sexual assault awareness month, we want to create a public space for healing.”
The quilt was founded by the Baltimore-based FORCE to begin a conversation about abuse and rape culture. The Towson event was organized by the Center for Student Diversity, the Feminist Collective, and the university Counseling Center’s Sexual Assault Peer Educators.
Ahmed said it was brought to Towson because sexual abuse and rape is as big an issue on college campuses as anywhere. The ultimate goal for FORCE is to gather enough quilts to stitch together an enormous, land-stretching message at the National Mall in Washington that reads “Not Alone.”
The dozens of red quilts drew attention from bystanders as several students walking by stared with curiosity at the collection, and then carefully toured through the quilts.
Photo by Diamond Hillyer
Student groups, such as the Tri Delta sorority, stopped by to create a quilt during a workshop or to lend support to the quilt.
“We use red not only because it draws attention from the average person just walking by, but because it represents what victims and survivors feel,” said Rebecca Nagle, co-director of FORCE. “Love, anger, attention…those all are representative with this color and this movement.”
Nagle said that though there are monuments that symbolize and pay respect to groups like veterans and national figures such as Abraham Lincoln, there aren’t many that are created by and for sexual assault and abuse survivors.
“Rape culture is an issue that has gotten media attention, but we need more,” Nagle said. “The Monument Quilt is more long-term. We just hope that doing this on college campuses can open a healthy, safe space and dialogue for survivors at all universities.”
Nagle said The Monument Quilt is expected to grow another 200 feet and will hopefully be completed for display at the National Mall by 2017.