Scholars and staff are invited to wear denim jeans on Wednesday, April 24, for Denim Day, in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Scholars may wear denim JEANS, but should wear their uniform shirt as usual.
Why denim? This campaign began after a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.
Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, what started as a local campaign to bring awareness to victim blaming and destructive myths that surround sexual violence has grown into a movement. As the longest running sexual violence prevention and education campaign in history, Denim Day asks community members, elected officials, businesses and students to make a social statement with their fashion statement by wearing jeans on this day as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual violence.
Teachers will take great care in presenting this campaign in an age appropriate manner. Scholars in grades K-5 will learn about the importance of healthy relationships.