Peace Over Violence's 19th Annual Denim Day is April 25, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Peace Over Violence Observes 19th Annual Denim Day on April 25, 2018

Millions Worldwide Will Wear Jeans With a Purpose, Saying, “There is No Excuse and Never an Invitation to Harass, Abuse, Assault, Rape!”

LOS ANGELES (April 5, 2018) -- Peace Over Violence observes the 19th year of its successful sexual violence prevention and education campaign, Denim Day, on April 25, 2018. Denim Day, the longest running sexual violence prevention and education campaign, reaffirms its support for survivors of all forms of sexual violence, aligning with the efforts and voices of #metoo.

“Sexual harassment is a testing ground for sexual violence and it is ingrained in our society where rape culture is rampant. Inspired by the times that we are in, we’ve expanded our tagline, ‘there is no excuse and never an invitation to rape,’ to include, ‘there is no excuse and never an invitation to harass, abuse, assault, rape,’” said Patti Giggans, Founder of Denim Day and Executive Director of Peace Over Violence. “The climate of taking action and speaking out against these issues has been a crucial part of the Denim Day campaign since it began 19 years ago,” added Giggans.

Since 1999, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes toward sexual assault. In this rape prevention education campaign, we ask community members, elected officials, businesses and students to make a social statement with their fashion by wearing jeans on this day as a visible means of protest against the misconceptions that surround sexual assault.

As the flagship city of this international campaign, Denim Day will once again be declared throughout the city and county of Los Angeles, with events happening on campuses, in workplaces and at many sites throughout the region. With the support of Denim Day Spokescouple Maya Jupiter and Aloe Blacc, as well as many partners and collaborators across the country, Giggans promises this year to be, “the most successful and influential yet.”

“Sexual assault is not a women’s issue — it’s a crime that everyone has a responsibility to confront, and that we can all play a role in ending. It begins with awareness, and that’s why Los Angeles is committed to the fight against sexual violence and Angelenos join people across America, and the world in wearing jeans on Denim Day. We are standing against harmful misconceptions and sending a simple, powerful message to victims and survivors: ‘You are not alone,’” said Mayor Eric Garcetti on Denim Day 2017.

Last year, the Denim Day campaign reached more than 12 million people worldwide, through events, proclamations, Facebook live, fundraising opportunities and more. Each year, people not only wear jeans with a purpose, but they commit to supporting survivors by educating themselves, others and advocating for change.

Across the country, Denim Day events will be happening in institutions, on middle school, high school and college campuses, on military bases and workplaces, saying, “Sexual harassment: Not on my watch!”

ABOUT DENIM DAY
For the past 19 years, Peace Over Violence, a Los Angeles based nonprofit, has run its Denim Day campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The campaign was originally triggered by a ruling in 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 rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, 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. The campaign continues to work to support individuals and groups across the world to bring Denim Day back to their communities in an effort to build awareness, support survivors and end rape culture.

To connect with Peace Over Violence and Denim Day on social media, please visit:
Facebook: /peaceoverviolence
Instagram: peaceovrviolnce
Twitter: peaceovrviolnce

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Contact:
Peace Over Violence  
Britni Soto                   
britni@peaceoverviolence.org
(213) 955-9090