For the past 18 years, Peace Over Violence has run its Denim Day campaign on a Wednesday in April to observe Sexual Violence Awareness Month.
Wednesday, April 25, marks this year’s day to wear denim as a sign of solidarity against rape.
The campaign was originally triggered by an Italian Supreme Court ruling that overturned a rape conviction.
The justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her attacker remove them, and thereby, implied consent.
Wearing jeans on Denim Day is a visible means of awareness of the misconceptions that surround sexual assault.
Del Mar College’s Counseling Center is teaming up with the Women Shelter’s The Purple Door to host Denim Day today.
Organizers will display about 25 pairs of blue jeans on tables for participants to write support messages.
The signed jeans will then hang as a display for the remainder of the day.
As part of the event, DMC Counseling Center staff also will hand out awareness and prevention materials as well as provide music, popcorn and giveaways.
Participants are encouraged to wear jeans and can create memories of Denim Day by taking "selfies" at a special station equipped with props, an oversized DMC metal sculpture or with Valdar the Viking.
The Del Mar College event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the courtyard between the Harvin Student Center and Heritage Hall on Del Mar’s East Campus.
Denim Day itself runs the entirety of Wednesday, April 25th.
