What is Denim Day?
Denim Day was originally established in response to an Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction on the basis that the victim wore tight jeans. The justices stated that the victim must have helped her attacker remove her jeans and therefore must have given consent and reversed the conviction. Wearing jeans on Denim Day has become an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.
The first Denim Day in LA was in April 1999, and has been commemorated every April since. Click here for more information on the history of this important day.
This year, Mayor Villaraigosa will be joining LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, Peace Over Violence and our community and City partners to commemorate the 13th Annual Denim Day in a press event on April 25, 2012, at 9:30AM at Peace Over Violence Headquarters, 1015 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90017.
The Mayor will use this occasion to call on Congress to reauthorize the Federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). He and Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rahm Emanuel recently sent a Letter to Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell requesting their support.
Get Involved!
This year, Denim Day is on Wednesday, April 25th. Get involved and wear your jeans to raise awareness about the myths surrounding sexual assault, and show your support for victims and survivors of rape!
Click here to find out about different ways to get involved and show your support by registering to wear jeans on April 25th.
