(thanks to vag for the head's up)
AND this week at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, we are 'celebrating' National Crime Victims' Rights Week. We are especially acknowledging the Victims Of Crime Act, as well as honoring the victims themselves, in Milwaukee County.
These cameos that are lining the entire first floor, represent people who have been victims/died in the face of violent crime. Each silhouette has an accompanying tag which gives the full name and age of the victim, as well as how they died. There were waaaay too many infant cameos up on those walls. It was terrible. Most of them were under the age of 30 years old, in fact. I really got a sense of the magnitude walking down the long hall, seeing these on either side. They were seemingly infinite, and I felt like I was walking in a graveyard. Really. Powerful.
On the main floor of the courthouse, there is also a display that really got me wrapped up. Most of the pieces that I found were made by youths and children...which absolutely broke my heart. I have been so fortunate...thus far.
This piece had the most lasting impact on me:
it reads (in part):
Why didn't you scream
Why didn't you tell
Why didn't you fight
Ask him why he raped me
And I think those words of wisdom, from a child, are perhaps the most important ones I've heard in a very long time.
