Denim Day

It was Rome, 1992. A 44-year-old driving instructor raped his 18-year-old student. She pressed charges and got a conviction. He appealed. The case went all the way to the Italian Supreme Court. In the end, the court ruled in the man’s favor, arguing that, “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them…and by removing the jeans…it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”

Outraged, members of the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work, protesting the court’s ruling. Since then, leaders all over the world have organized Denim Day, wearing jeans in an effort to change perceptions about sexual violence. This year, Denim Day is Wednesday April 21. Join Break the Cycle ally, Peace Over Violence, in the US Campaign by bringing Denim Day to your community.

-Posted April 16, 2010