Denim Day 2022: One to Remember!

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who participated in Denim Day 2022, making this campaign a success! With your participation and support, we were able to reach millions of individuals all over the world, increasing our reach and impact. In our 23nd year, the campaign continues to spread messages of violence prevention and activitsim, and to educate on issues surrounding all forms of sexual violence. We could not have done it without you!

This year, we went back to the roots of the campaign and some of our original messaging with the theme: there is STILL no excuse and never an invitation to rape. This message remains relevant - and critical - today. We are so inspired by all of the testimonies, stories, photos and reports of Denim Days all over the world. Denim Day is a movement that continues to get stronger and gain momentum.

Together we are working toward a world without violence.

2022 Highlights

Photo by Manny Solis

Press Conference at City Hall

Denim Day 2022 kicked off with a news conference at Los Angeles City Hall, led by Los Angeles City Council President Nury Martinez, and City Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Monica Rodriguez, joined by Peace Over Violence Executive Director/CEO Patti Giggans and Michelle, a survivor of child sexual abuse, to proclaim April 27th Denim Day in Los Angeles.

Check out the recording of the press conference here!

Photo by Casey Hammons

Photos by Casey Hammons

Photo by Casey Hammons

Denim Day Rally

Following the press conference, we planned for our first in person gathering in several years on the lawn of City Hall. Due to circumstances out of our control, the rally had to be moved at the last minute across the street outside the LAPD building. Thanks to the LAPD for their generosity in supporting this, and to all of the participants and supporters who showed up - and stayed! - in solidarity. We were still able to have an amazing and inspirational program, including colleagues from our sister rape crisis agencies, youth from our programming, and Former Mayor of LA Antonio Villaraigosa! The program ended with one of our POV Youth Violence prevention specialists sharing a poem she wrote for Denim Day, and then attendees sharing why they wear denim. It was a powerful event!

Participants Included:

Patti Giggans, Denim Day Founder and CEO/Executive Director, POV
Antonio Villaraigosa, 41st Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, Co-Chairman and Partner at Actum, LLC & POV Advisory Board Member
Mike Bayless, President, POV Board of Directors
Sandra Henriquez, CEO, ValorUS
Michelle, Voices Over Violence Survivor Speakers Bureau
Sharon Shelton, Chief Operating Officer, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles
Kim Goldberg-Roth, Executive Director, Strength United
Barbara Kappos, Executive Director of East Los Angeles Women’s Center
Patima Komolamit, Program Director, Center for the Pacific Asian Family
Wendy Blanco, Director of Counseling Services and Trauma Recovery, POV
Julia Francisco, Youth Violence Prevention Specialist, Senior at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex
And community members sharing why they wear denim!

You Asked for It - a poem by Julia Francisco-Rodas
ICYMI you can see the full video from the rally here!

April Activities

We are always so inspired to see Denim Days happening locally and all over the world. From college campus activations, to military bases, to corporate events, and individuals sharing online, the power of the movement connects us all. This year, we continued our bi-coastal partnership with Denim Day New York City and were happy to connect pre-Denim Day with an Instagram Live promoting the campaign and activities for people to get involved with. We participated in tabling events all over Los Angeles spreading awareness. We were contacted by an organization, Womandla, in Zimbabwe and were able to help them with their Denim Day on the ground and virtually. We received pictures from an Army base in Puerto Rico and their Denim Day. Even the CDC mentioned us in their newsletter! So many survivors shared their stories with us and with others, joining in solidarity and empowerment. Thank you to everyone who sent us pictures, shared testimonials, tagged us on social… this campaign thrives with and because of you!

The Denim Day Pledge

This year we brought back our Denim Day pledge! Over 1000 individuals took the pledge representing hundreds of thousands of participants and shared why they wear denim. Thank you to those who participated and took the pledge, and shared responses to the question: why will you wear denim?

Here are a few of the responses we received:

“I wear denim today to support my daughter, and others who have been sexually assaulted. I wear denim today to raise awareness of the trauma that results from sexual abuse. I wear denim to demand that we all do better when supporting survivors. I wear denim to let assailants know that I will not tolerate their behaviors or excuses.”

“For the younger version of me that thought that being raped was my fault.”

“I will wear denim to support those whose voices weren't heard so that I can help give them their voice back by bringing awareness. My social fashion statement will show my students that I am ally and willing to learn more and educate others and violence prevention.”

“I first publicly identified myself as a rape survivor on the very first Denim Day in LA. It was scary, but it changed my life to release this secret and know I wasn’t alone! Very proud of POV’s work, and I hope by continuing to support Denim Day to help others get the same benefit.”

“To stand in solidarity with survivors, to spread awareness about sexual assault. Even if it is one person at a time, I WILL make a change in the way our societies treat victims of sexual violence.”

“Because I never thought that this would happen to me. Because I believe survivors. Because sexual assault is an issue that is way too common and not spoken about enough. Because so often survivors feel powerless or like they do not have a voice.”

“I was raped last year, and I want to make sure others are empowered in the ways that I felt I wasn't while I was processing what had happened to me.”

“Because I am SICK of the silence and compliance in our society. I want people to know that I believe survivors, and that I will not tolerate victim blaming.”

Because I never thought that this would happen to me. Because I believe survivors. Because sexual assault is an issue that is way too common and not spoken about enough. Because so often survivors feel powerless or like they do not have a voice. Because it takes all of us stepping up to put an end to sexual violence. Because I care.

I stand in solidarity with the right of women and people worldwide to wear whatever they want and act however they want without fear of sexual or other assaults. A person's freedom of expression is never an invitation to have their rights violated or to be abused.

To amplify and bring attention to victims of sexual assault and violence particularly Black girls and women as well as the LBGTQ+ community who have been victimized in alarmingly high numbers

To stand alongside survivors, including myself, and make sexual education a human right not something to hide or brush over.

I wear denim in solidarity with all of the women, men, and those who identify as LGBTQ+ to acknowledge their stories (sexual, physical, emotional violence, domestic violence, stalking) as real & true that deserve the compassion, dignity, and respect as a community of survivors and to bring awareness, education, prevention, policy, and support for said individuals.

For those who felt like they couldn’t say anything, and the ones that did. I believe you!

For everyone that said no and was ignored. To all of those who weren’t believed.

To show my concern for the the women who didn’t get justice and to show that rape, or any sexual violence is not okay.

I will wear and support others who wear denim because sexual violence is a serious issue that needs awareness. It is the small things that matter so just by wearing denim you can make a statement and show that you care. Denim day is a great way to show attention towards this type of matter because it gives survivors hope that there are people who are there for them all around the world.

It’s not too late to take the pledge! Denim Day messages are year round strong. Take the pledge now and save the date for Denim Day 2023- Wednesday, April 26th!

Denim Day on Social Media

This year we saw incredible reach on social media! The campaign really took off with the support of influencers and followers sharing Denim Day messages across the world. TikTok videos were a new addition to the campaign this year and we were so inspired to see content created that shared the history of the campaign and messages surrounding sexual violence education and consent. We really felt the power of the online community and reached tens of millions of accounts throughout April.

Check out a few of our favorite videos below and search #denimday for more inspiration!

The history of Denim Day 

Thank you to @eldiamani for creating this (now viral) video and all of its contributors @ourvibesmedia @thesweetcarols @grunge.granny and @riatirre for participating and spreading the word about Denim Day and how it started!

Watch it, like it, share it!

Did I Say Yes

@betterhere on TikTok started this creative trend, and it’s taking off. We love the message of active consent and seeing how people are sharing this!

Watch it, like it, share it!

Fundraising

This year we continued utilizing a peer-to-peer crowdfunding option to our fundraising efforts. Transforming our “Dollars for Denim” grassroots campaign into an online one allowed individuals to sign up for fundraising teams and virtually recruit their networks to support the campaign. Shout out to our top teams: OCONN Human Rights and Action LC, Pomfret School, Brophy Advocacy Club, and Flagler County— and all of the teams and donors for Denim Day 2022! Financial contributions help underwrite the costs of producing and distributing educational materials. They also ensure that we can continue to provide access to services for sexual assault survivors, including our 24-hour hotline, free counseling and healing services, legal and support groups, and youth violence prevention and engagement.

Denim Day Swag

Denim Day materials have always played a large role in our campaign, from providing downloadable materials, a virtual action kit, a variety of buttons, t-shirts, etc., we love seeing supporters gear up. This year we added some new swag with the messaging of the campaign and it was a huge hit, with many of our items selling out! But don’t worry - we are currently restocking and Denim Day materials will be back in our store soon. As we know, the messages of the campaign and all of our materials are relevant and fashionable year round! Check out what is currently available here!