Domestic violence survivor Sparkle Johnson spent six years with her abusive husband before he was sent to prison for his crimes, and has since dedicated her life to helping other victims.
In an effort to raise awareness through her nonprofit organization SuperWomen Inc., Johnson conducted a social experiment in Nashville on Saturday afternoon, aiming to see if Nashvillians would try to help victims of abuse if they saw them.
The setup was simple. Using make-up, Johnson recreated injuries she once sustained after being beaten by her husband. Then she hung around in the Gulch -- close to the "What Lifts You" angel wings mural -- and waited to see if and how people would react.
In a span of two hours, only two families and one man stopped to offer assistance. Others simply pointed, whispered, and even took pictures.
“It's heartbreaking because that's why people are dying every day to domestic violence here in Nashville. It is such a silent killer and nobody's speaking out. And today, so far, proved my point,” Johnson told news outlets.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233.