On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, over 150 community members gathered outside Borough Hall in St. George, Staten Island, to show their support for Denim Day, an annual event that raises awareness about sexual assault. Denim Day was established in 1999 following a controversial Italian Supreme Court of Appeals decision that overturned a rape conviction because the court believed that the victim’s tight jeans implied consent. In response to this ruling, women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work in solidarity with the victim. Since then, Denim Day has become a global event that encourages people to wear denim as a symbol of support for survivors of sexual assault.
Attendees at the Staten Island Denim Day rally heard from a variety of speakers, including District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, Marjorie Cohen, executive director of the William L. Murphy NYC Family Justice Center and NYC Office to End Domestic and Gender Violence, and Edwina Frances Martin, the public administrator of Richmond County. The speakers emphasized the importance of consent, the need to believe survivors, and the role that communities can play in ending sexual assault.
“Twenty five years after the founding of this campaign, we are here, stronger than ever,” said Marjorie Cohen. “And we will continue to be here, to stand up, to fight, and to continue the impact for those who can’t yet raise their voice. We will stand for those who can’t yet come forward, making lots of noise, making our voices heard, drowning out those who want to victim blame and oppress survivors.”
The Denim Day rally is one of many events that will be held during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which runs from April 23-29. The goal of the week is to raise awareness about the impact of crime on victims and survivors and to promote the rights of victims. For more information about Denim Day and National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, please visit the websites of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and the Office for Victims of Crime.
