Millions Don Denim In Protest of Sexual Abuse

LOS ANGELES, CA — Events are scheduled across the Southland Wednesday to recognize the 19th annual Denim Day campaign to combat sexual violence and supporting its victims.

Denim Day founder Patti Giggans, executive director of the group Peace Over Violence, joined city and community leaders at Los Angeles City Hall to discuss the campaign and -- in conjunction with the #MeToo and Times Up movements -- announce a "Sexual harassment: Not on my watch" initiative.

"This Denim Day we've expanded our signature message, which I know many of you know, that `There's no excuse and never an invitation to rape,"' Giggans said during a news conference outside City Hall. "Now we include sexual harassment. `There is no excuse and never an invitation to harass, abuse, assault, or rape."'

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti also spoke at the news conference.

"We have to care about sexual violence first and foremost because of the effect it has on each and every one of us. Some of us directly, some of us our siblings, some of us our co-workers, some of us our neighbors. But we care about this also because it launches a cycle of violence, of poverty, of trauma that continues."

Peace Over Violence championed Denim Day in Los Angeles in 1999 as part of an international protest following the Italian Supreme Court's decision to overturn a rape conviction. The victim wore tight jeans, which the justices reasoned the suspect couldn't have removed without her help.

Women in the Italian Parliament began to wear jeans to work in protest of the ruling, and the movement has spread around the world since then.

Denim Day encourages people to wear jeans as a symbol of protest against sexual assault and raise awareness of misconceptions that surround it.

In addition to the news conference and Los Angeles City Council presentation, Denim Day events are planned in Irwindale, where police and city employees will take part in a 4 p.m. walk at City Hall, 5050 N. Irwindale Ave. At 6 p.m. in Santa Monica, city and state officials will gather to proclaim Denim Day during a community event sponsored by the Commission on the Status of Women.

Nearly 12 million people registered at the www.denimdayinfo.org website to participate in the event by wearing jeans on Wednesday.

City News Service; SANTA MONICA, CA - APRIL 26: Board president Kent Kiesey, rapper Maya Jupiter, singer/songwriter Aloe Blacc, Char Bland, Founder and Executive Director of Peace Over Violence Patti Giggans, board members Dawn Bey, Christina Mauro and advisory board member Michelle Santucci attend the GUESS x Peace Over Violence support Denim Day event at Third Street Promenade on April 26, 2017 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for GUESS, Inc.)