Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted. Even more disturbing: 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually assaulted before their 18th birthday. It’s time to take action – and Denim Day is the perfect place to start.
Observed during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Denim Day (April 24) is an international rape prevention education campaign that raises community awareness about the devastating impacts of sexual violence and focuses on how to prevent it. Charlotte organizations can participate in Denim Day by encouraging employees to wear jeans one day in April. Email Sydney Hammond, director of stewardship, to participate in this protest and education movement.
Hammond encourages local organizations and groups to join Safe Alliance’s growing list of Denim Day participants.
“Help show the community what tremendous support there is for raising awareness about sexual assault by adding your name to the list,” she said.
Denim Day originated in Italy in 1999, when an Italian High Court overturned a rape conviction, arguing that because the victim wore tight jeans and had to help the perpetrator remove them, this signaled consensual sex and not rape. Enraged by the verdict, women protested the ruling by wearing jeans on the steps of parliament. As news of this decision spread internationally, so did the protest … and Denim Day was born.
Safe Alliance will highlight all Charlotte-area organizations participating in Denim Day online at www.safealliance.org/denimday. Contact Hammond at sydney.hammond@safealliance.org or 704.367.2733 for more information.
