LOS ANGELES - On Wednesday and during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, advocates will honor survivors of sexual violence through a movement called Denim Day.April 27, 2022 marks the 24th celebration of Denim Day in the United States, but what is Denim Day, how did the initiative start, and what does it have to do with jeans?Denim Day is a campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.According to DenimDayInfo.org, the campaign began after a ruling in 1992 by the Italian Supreme Court, where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the 18-year-old victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the person who raped her remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. RELATED: Lyft safety report: More than 4,100 sexual assault claims filed over 3-year spanThe victim was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor who was taking her to her first driving lesson.
He took her to an isolated road, pulled her out of the car, removed her jeans and raped her.Jeans displayed in store (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) At the time, the female reported the rape, and the man was arrested, convicted of rape and sentenced to jail.
Years later, he appealed the conviction claiming consensual sex. This is when the Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction.
The following day after the conviction, women in the Italian Parliament launched a protest and came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.