The Frieda Widera
Silent Witness Project
What Is the Silent Witness Project?
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The Silent Witness Project is a national initiative that began in 1990 to honor the lives lost to domestic violence through life-sized silhouettes representing victims. Today, communities across the country carry this mission forward as a powerful visual reminder of the urgent need for prevention.
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The Frieda Widera Silent Witness Project brings this movement home to Pinellas County. Our silhouettes are painted purple, the color of domestic violence awareness, and designed in the style of kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold. This symbolizes how we honor harm while holding space for healing, resilience, and prevention.
About Frieda Widera?
Frieda Widera dedicated her career to supporting survivors as a Victim Advocate with the Largo Police Department. She was a tireless champion for justice and safety, ensuring victims were never alone in their struggle. Naming this project in her honor ensures her legacy of compassion, courage, and advocacy lives on.
Artistry & Meaning
The project features the artistry of Ameena Khan, a celebrated visual artist whose work explores resilience, healing, and interconnectedness. Ameena’s integration of the kintsugi style reminds us that while violence creates cracks and breaks in families and communities, we can come together to rebuild with strength and hope.
Our Stories
Each silhouette represents a life taken by domestic violence, and each carries a story. Some stories are true to the person lost; others are composites drawn from many lives. We tell these stories to shine a light on the realities of abuse, to educate our community about risk factors, and to remind us that behind every statistic is a name, a face, and a family forever changed. Stories turn memory into action...teaching us what can be done to prevent future tragedies.
Our Mission
The Frieda Widera Silent Witness Project seeks to:
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Remember the lives taken by domestic violence.
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Advocate for survivors through awareness and education.
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Change our communities by inspiring action and prevention.
By telling the stories behind the silhouettes, we make visible what is too often hidden and transform grief into a call to action.
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How You Can Help
Your support ensures that the project continues to be displayed in public spaces, schools, faith communities, and civic events throughout Pinellas County. With your partnership, we can expand education, spark conversation, and inspire the actions that save lives.
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Sasha wanted to believe her partner’s pain could heal, but excuses and cycles of threats left her trapped, a reminder that generational trauma doesn’t justify violence.
The true story of Rae, a fashionista, athlete, mentor, friend and loving daughter who was murdered by her mothers estranged ex-husband, showing how loved ones can also be caught in the path of violence, with the intention to cause the most harm to the family left behind.
The true story of Nikki who was raising her two little boys when an ex who couldn’t let go - he stalked and killed her, a reminder that jealousy and stalking are major red flags.
Sasha wanted to believe her partner’s pain could heal, but excuses and cycles of threats left her trapped, a reminder that generational trauma doesn’t justify violence.