Denim Day | United Way of the Ouachitas

TRIGGER WARNING: This page references sexual assault. While the intended purpose is to educate, some viewers may find senistivety in the displayed message.

TAKE ACTION APRIL 24!

There is no excuse and never an invitation to rape. Denim Day calls on all individuals, institutions and elected officials to challenge destructive attitudes and myths that surround sexual violence.Show your support for the Denim Day Call to Action by joining the millions of other voices in wearing jeans on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024. Share your photos with us by tagging us on Facebook at @uwouachitas or on Instagram at @unitedwayouachitas with hashtags #UWDenimDay #DenimDay #LiveUnited

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Not on My Campus

Not in My Government

Not in My Workplace

Print these ACTION signs to use as props in your photos!

DENIM DAY HISTORY

1992, Rome, Italy —

An 18-year-old girl was raped by the 45-year year old driving instructor who was taking her to her very first driving lesson. He took her to an isolated road, pulled her out of the car, removed her jeans and forcefully raped her. She reports the rape and the perpetrator is arrested and prosecuted. He is then convicted of rape and sentenced to jail.

1999, Rome, Italy —

The driving instructor appeals the sentence, claiming that they had consensual sex. The case makes it all the way to the Italian High Court where the conviction is overturned and he is released.

Enraged by this verdict women of the Italian parliament protested by wearing jeans to work. As decisions of the news spread so did the protests.

1999, Denim Day in Los Angeles —

A statement from the Court argued that because the victim wore very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex. This became known throughout Italy as the “jeans alibi.” Enraged by the verdict, the women in the Italian Parliament protested by wearing jeans on the steps of the Supreme Court. This protest was picked up by international media and eventually spread to LA. Inspired, Patti Occhiuzzo Giggans, Executive Director of Peace Over Violence, thought everyone should be wearing jeans to protest all of the myths about why women are raped.

Every year since 1999 —

Peace Over Violence has organized Denim Day, which has evolved Nationally and Internationally, to become an award winning rape prevention education campaign, which asks community members, elected officials, businesses and students to make a social statement with their fashion statement. Wearing jeans on this anniversary has become an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual violence.#UWDenimDay #DenimDay