HFC observes Denim Day as a show of support for sexual assault survivors

We encourage the HFC community to wear jeans on the 25th annual Denim Day, which will be observed across the nation on Wednesday, April 24, in support of sexual assault survivors during Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Crime Victims Rights Week.

HFC employees can pick up stickers starting Monday, April 15. We encourage you to wear jeans or any clothing made of denim at the College on April 24. You can pick the stickers up from:

• HFC Title IX Coordinator Munira Kassim in Room N-227 (Building N on the main campus).
• HFC Student Deputy Title IX Coordinator Glenn Richards in Room N-223.
• HFC Employee Deputy Title IX Coordinator Mark Tade in Human Resources on the third floor of the Welcome Center (Bldg. WC) on the main campus.

We encourage HFC students to pick up stickers from any of the three locations and to wear jeans on Denim Day.

A brief history of Denim Day

In Italy in 1992, a 45-year-old driving instructor sexually assaulted his student, an 18-year-old female, during her first driving lesson. Although this man was subsequently convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to prison, he appealed the conviction several years later, stating that the incident had been consensual.

The Italian Supreme Court overturned the conviction, and the assailant was released. The Court’s argument was that because the female was wearing tight jeans that would be hard to remove, the woman must have helped the assailant remove them. This would indicate that the incident was consensual. This convoluted rationale has since become known as the “jeans alibi.”

Enraged by the verdict, women in the Italian Parliament launched a protest by wearing jeans on the steps of the Italian Supreme Court. This protest made international news, which inspired members of the California State Senate and the California State Assembly to do the same on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento.

International symbol of protest for 25 years

As a result, Patti Occhiuzzo Giggans, a victims rights advocate and executive director of what is now called Peace Over Violence, established Denim Day in Los Angeles in 1999. This has become an international event held annually. Wearing jeans on this day has become an international symbol of protest against attitudes that sexual assault is the victim's fault, and is also an effort to bring about real justice and support for survivors.

In a modicum of justice, as of 2008, the Italian Supreme Court no longer recognizes a “jeans alibi” for sexual assault.

For questions or more information about Denim Day, contact Richards at grrichards2@hfcc.edu.