Denim Day Is A National Campaign To Raise Rape And Sexual Violence Awareness
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Southland residents will take part in Denim Day on Wednesday April 27, as part of a national campaign to raise awareness about rape and sexual violence.
Peace Over Violence started Denim Day in 1999 when an Italian court overturned a rape conviction partially because the victim was wearing tight jeans -- something the justices reasoned the suspect couldn't have removed without the victim's help.
The group estimates that more than 2 million people will take part in local events, which include presentations by organizers at city halls in Los Angeles and West Hollywood.
This year the group is also partnering with 1in6.org, a group supporting adult male survivors of sexual abuse. Patti Giggans, executive director of Peace Over Violence, and Steve LePore, head of 1in6, will testify before the Los Angeles City Council on the issue of sexual violence and violence prevention.
In conjunction with the event, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck held news conference Wednesday to provide an update on the LAPD's effort to work through a testing backlog of DNA rape kits.
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