Today I wore jeans to work as part of Denim Day USA 2009. Staff members at the courthouse and I were supporting Peace Over Violence's campaign to raise awareness and educate the public about rape and sexual assault. The event was part of Sexual Assault Awareness month.
In 1988, an Italian Supreme Court decision overturned a rape conviction because the victim wore jeans, reasoning she must have helped her attacker remove them. People all over the world were outraged. Wearing jeans became an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.
Last year, on Denim Day an unprecedented 600,000 individuals and organizations signed up to wear jeans in support of raising awareness about the need to end sexual violence. This year the organization aimed to at least double that amount.
By wearing my denim, I united with others around the country against the sexual assault of girls, women, boys, and men. I stood in support of survivors and with the hope of breaking the silence to end sexual violence.
Learn more about Denim Day at http://www.denimdayusa.org/.
