Denim Day began in the 1990s, after a young woman was blamed for being raped.  In 1992, an 18-year-old girl in Italy was raped by her driving instructor. She pressed charges and won.  The instructor appealed to the Italian High Court.  In 1999, the court overturned the conviction, stating that since the victim was wearing jeans, the instructor could not have removed them himself, therefore the victim must have participated. Women of the Italian legislature protested the decision by wearing jeans.  As the news of the decision spread, so did the protest. In April 1999, the first Denim Day was established in the United States.

Today, nearly one in five women and one in 71 men have been raped in their lifetime. And a sexual assault is committed every two minutes in the United States.  Often, victims are further traumatized by the blame and criticism they receive from friends, family, and systems. This blame not only puts victims in further danger, it allows perpetrators to escape accountability, thereby furthering the prevalence of sexual assault.

Together, we can support victims, hold perpetrators accountable, and end sexual violence in South Carolina.