A Denim Day Like No Other
In its 21st year, Denim Day remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting survivors and raising awareness about the public health and safety impacts of sexual violence around the world, despite the current global pandemic. Individuals, families, and communities continued to do their part in disrupting rape culture by including survivors’ experiences and needs in the public discourse surrounding COVID-19.
“It is vital that we prioritize the needs of survivors of sexual assault in this pandemic. We know that sheltering at home may not be safe for those who fear sexual violence, and we are highly attuned to the need for solidarity and increased support.”
Sexual and domestic violence were global epidemics long before COVID-19, and they will continue to exist after we transition into our “new normal,” but millions of individuals continue to oppose sexist and racist oppressions as they reimagine a different world. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, this April we witnessed communities and allies publicly recommitting themselves to this work of awareness raising, activism, and supporting survivors and their communities through their own local organizing and resourcefulness.
Denim Day in Review
In Los Angeles, the flagship city for Denim Day, the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and April 29th as Denim Day in a morning press conference.
Later that same day, we held a bicoastal Survivor Rally virtually- a first in Denim Day history! This online event, held in partnership with Denim Day NYC, brought individuals and families around the world together in solidarity with survivors and one another.
We were honored to have Ambra Gutierrez, Stacey Cooper, Matthew Ennis, Margarita Guzman, V (formerly known as Eve Ensler), Alexandra Magallon, Sasha Neha Ahuja, Diane Neal, and Jovan Martinez share their experiences and thoughts on actions needing to be taken in order to have healthier and safer communities.
The rally also gave us the space to sing, dance, and even...chant (or at least make an attempt!). Maya Jupiter and Aloe Blacc, who were our rally’s emcees, helped to uplift and energize us by sharing their musical gifts.
Toward the end of the virtual rally, everyone chanted together Un violador en tu camino (A Rapist in Your Path) as a rallying cry to mark the end of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and to launch us into our collective future.
We thank everyone for their ongoing support in this fight and for continuing to join us every year in this important campaign. Let us remember to find the joy and beauty in our world, and to practice being hopeful through our mutual care for one another. It is in community that we are able to develop solutions that work for everyone.
We encourage you to continue being an ally, advocate, and upstander for survivors as we navigate our current landscape. Together, we are stronger!