April 26th is Denim Day 2023, and we are celebrating it’s 10th Anniversary!
Denim Day is a world-wide movement in solidarity with victims and survivors of sexual assault. This year’s theme is #WhatWeDoInDenim.
But what is Denim Day all about? What does it have to do with Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month?
In 1999, a case in Italy came to worldwide attention when a young woman accused her 45-year-old driving instructor of brutally raping her during a driving lesson. He was sentenced to 34-months in prison before the case made its way to the Italian high court, where the sentence was overturned. The Chief Judge released a statement arguing that because the victim wore tight jeans, he assumed that she must have helped her perpetrator remove her jeans and, therefore, consented.
Enraged by the verdict, the women in the Italian Parliament launched into immediate action and protested by wearing jeans on the steps of the Italian Parliament building. This was the beginning of what has become a worldwide event and movement to wear jeans as a visible means of protest against misconceptions that surround sexual assault.
Every year, agencies and individuals take part in the Denim Day celebration to show their support for victims and survivors of sexual violence. Here are some past photos of Arkansas Valley Resource Center staff taking part in Denim Day!
If you would like to take part in the Denim Day movement, snap a selfie, tag AVRC, and make sure to use the hashtag #DenimDay2023!
If you have any questions, or are seeking support, AVRC is just a quick call away, and Staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
415 Colorado Avenue, La Junta, CO 81050
(719) 384-7764
TTY: (719) 384-1938
After Hours Colorado Relay dial 711 or 1-800-659-2656
AVRC is non-discriminatory agency regarding age, race, religion, color, gender, country of national origin, sexual orientation, mental health status, substance use or economic condition.
Denim Day history provided by https://coloradodenimday.org/.
Air Force Academy photo provided by https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/04/25/denim-day-academy-cadets-wear-jeans-to-support-sexual-assault-victims/.