Denim Day 2026 greatest global impact ever!

 

Thank you

 

Thank you to every survivor, advocate, educator, student, volunteer, artist, partner, elected official, organization, and community member who showed up for Denim Day 2026 and helped turn awareness into action.

This year marked one of the largest Denim Day campaigns to date, with millions of people participating across Los Angeles, the country, and around the world. Hundreds of cities, schools, colleges, organizations, workplaces, and community groups joined together in solidarity to support survivors, challenge victim blaming, and help keep conversations around prevention and healing visible.

The message behind USE YOUR VOICE resonated deeply this year. At a time when conversations around consent, bodily autonomy, prevention education, and survivor rights remain as urgent as ever, communities continued to speak out, support one another, and advocate for change. Through rallies, classrooms, workplaces, social media, community events, art, storytelling, and everyday acts of solidarity, people used their voices to stand with survivors and challenge rape culture.

For the first time, Denim Day was also recognized at the federal level through a U.S. Senate resolution acknowledging Denim Day and the importance of supporting survivors and ending sexual violence. Sponsored by Sen. Tammy Baldwin [D-WI], the resolution further highlighted the growing national recognition of Denim Day’s impact and ongoing call for awareness, prevention, and survivor support.

Senate Resolution 698

Whether you attended an event, wore denim, shared resources, donated, hosted a campaign, educated your community, amplified survivor stories, or simply started a conversation — you became part of a movement that continues to grow stronger every year.

Denim Day has always been about more than jeans. It is about refusing silence. It is about believing survivors. It is about creating a culture rooted in accountability, empathy, prevention, and healing.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month may come to a close, but this work continues every day. Thank you for standing with Peace Over Violence and helping build a future free from violence. It’s not too late to support our work.

Donate Today
 

USE YOUR VOICE

On April 29th, 2026, communities across Los Angeles, the country, and around the world came together once again for Denim Day under the continued theme: USE YOUR VOICE.

This year, the message felt more urgent than ever. In a time when conversations around consent, bodily autonomy, safety, and survivor rights continue to face pushback, supporters, advocates, educators, students, and survivors used their voices to speak out, support one another, and keep these conversations visible.

Across rallies, classrooms, workplaces, social media, community events, and everyday conversations, people showed up in solidarity — reminding survivors that they are heard, believed, and not alone.

USE YOUR VOICE continued to be a call to action: to challenge victim blaming, advocate for prevention, support survivors, and create communities rooted in accountability, empathy, and change.

Thank you to everyone who wore denim with purpose, shared your story, amplified resources, educated others, and used your voice to help move this movement forward.

 

2026 Highlights

 
 
 

Press Conference & Solidarity Rally at LA City Hall

On Denim Day, supporters, advocates, survivors, students, elected officials, and community leaders gathered at Los Angeles City Hall for Peace Over Violence’s annual Denim Day Rally and Press Conference.

Held in the city where Denim Day began, the event brought hundreds of people together in solidarity to raise awareness, challenge victim blaming, and support survivors of sexual violence. The program featured powerful remarks from community leaders, survivor advocates, and public officials, alongside music provided by Maiden Mexico and Air Nandez, and an interactive Empowerment Self-Defense demonstration led by POV Deputy Executive Director Yvette Lozano.


Speakers included:

  • Monica Rodriguez, LA City Council, District 7

  • Patti Giggans, Executive Director/CEO, Peace Over Violence & Founder of Denim Day 

  • Survivor Speaker: Elya Braden, Founder and President, Hagomel Foundation

  • Eunisses Hernandez, LA City Council, District 1

  • Heather Hutt, LA City Council, District 10

  • John Lee, LA City Council, District 12

  • Hugo Soto Martinez,  LA City Council, District 13

  • Dr. Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools

  • Yvette Lozano, Deputy Executive Director, Peace Over Violence


A moving moment during the program was a poem delivered by Denim Day Founder and Peace Over Violence CEO Patti Giggans titled, “Don’t Ask.”

Don’t Ask

A Poem for Denim Day 2026
By Patti Giggans

Don’t ask me why.
Don’t ask me why I didn’t tell
or what I was wearing.

Don’t ask me why I didn’t report it
or why I didn’t scream.

Don’t ask.

Don’t ask me if I said no
or how many times I said it.

Don’t ask me if I was drinking
or why I stayed out late.

Ask me.

Ask me how I am doing.
Ask me how I have been so strong.
Ask me where my resiliency comes from.

Ask me how I get through my days.
How I get through my nights.

Don’t ask me.

Listen.

Listen to my words.
Listen to my heart beating.
Just listen to my truth.

—


The rally also featured powerful survivor stories, community resources, interactive activities, Denim Day merch and giveaways, coffee and drinks provided by Dutch Bros, live heat pressing and embroidery by Honeystitch, and a special collaboration with BET in support of survivor advocacy and awareness.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, wore denim with purpose, shared your voice, and helped make Denim Day 2026 such a powerful day of advocacy and solidarity.

 
 
 

Denim Day 2026 Kickoff + Use Your Voice Recognition

We officially launched Denim Day 2026 and Sexual Assault Awareness Month on April 7th with a community kickoff event at Liberties Bar centered on connection, advocacy, and collective action. Friends, partners, and community members gathered to reflect, raise awareness, and build momentum for the month ahead.

We were proud to honor this year’s Use Your Voice Award recipients:

  • Seth Eklund & The Bresee Foundation for their ongoing work supporting youth and families across Los Angeles.

  • Ellen Snortland for decades of advocacy empowering women and girls through journalism and self-defense education.

Guests enjoyed drinks, snacks, giveaways, signing the Denim Day pledge, merch shopping, and limited-edition denim jackets customized on-site by Honeystitch Embroidery.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in kicking off Denim Day 2026.

 
 
 

Denim Day Around the US & the World

This year, Denim Day once again brought together people across cities, campuses, workplaces, organizations, and online communities around the world in support of survivors and the movement to end sexual violence.

From Los Angeles and Sacramento to New York City, communities showed up through rallies, school activations, workplace campaigns, survivor-centered events, and online advocacy. Internationally, supporters and organizations in countries including Italy, Nigeria, India, Canada, and South Africa joined the movement by sharing resources, hosting local Denim Day events, and raising awareness online.

Whether people wore denim, hosted events, shared resources, posted online, or spoke out in solidarity, every action helped strengthen this global movement. Thank you to everyone who participated, tagged us, shared your stories, and stood with survivors this Denim Day.

 
 
 
 

The Denim Day Pledge

Thank you to the thousands who took the pledge this Denim Day—your voices joined with hundreds of thousands across the country to take a stand and answer the question: Why will you wear denim?

 
Here are a few of the responses we received:

“It is important to support victims of sexual violence especially in the current climate in the US.”

“I wear denim to support all victims and prevent sexual violence. I want to promote safe relationships on campus.”

“For Peace Over Violence and to help spread awareness about sexual assault.”

“For those who can’t speak up.”

“To raise awareness about harmful misinformation surrounding the cause of sexual assault.”

“As a sexual assault survivor, I wear denim to raise awareness in my community that there is never an excuse for rape.”

“To bring awareness towards sexual violence and challenge the many misconceptions of rape, sexual assault, harassment and violence. I wear it for the women who came before me and the ones that will come after.”

 

It’s not too late to take the pledge and let your voice be heard–and make the commitment to wearing your denim next year on April 28th, 2027!

 
 
 
 
 
 

Denim Day on Social Media

This year’s Denim Day campaign reached communities across the country through powerful social media posts, reels, speeches, and survivor-centered conversations. We were inspired to see advocates, organizations, creators, and community leaders use their platforms to raise awareness, challenge victim blaming, and stand in solidarity with survivors.

Check out some notable posts and reels from this year’s campaign:

  • POV Denim Day Rally Highlight Reel
    Shared by Peace Over Violence, highlighting moments from the Denim Day rally and community turnout in Los Angeles.

  • Jennifer Siebel Newsom + California Surgeon General Denim Day Message
    Posted by California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom alongside the California Surgeon General in support of Denim Day and survivor advocacy.

  • LACOE Denim Day Reel
    Posted by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), encouraging schools, educators, and students to participate in Denim Day.

  • Denim Day Community Awareness Reel
    Posted by the City of Santa Clarita, featuring a community-centered awareness reel focused on consent education and standing with survivors.

  • Denim Day Advocacy Reel
    Posted by Columbia Health, raising awareness around victim blaming, consent, and sexual violence prevention.

  • Denim Day Survivor Solidarity Reel
    Posted by University of Cambridge St Edmund’s College, uplifting survivor voices and encouraging solidarity, support, and healing within their community.

  • #DenimDay TikTok Posts
    Creators, advocates, and organizations across TikTok shared videos supporting survivors and educating audiences about the meaning behind Denim Day.

  • #DenimDay on X
    Advocates, public figures, organizations, and community members joined the online conversation around Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

 
 
 

Fundraising

This year’s Denim Day campaign was powered by a community committed to supporting survivors beyond a single day of awareness. Every donation helps Peace Over Violence continue providing free, trauma-informed services to survivors and their families throughout Los Angeles.

Support from our community helps fund emergency response services, counseling and healing programs, legal advocacy, housing assistance, prevention education, and youth engagement programs that survivors rely on every day.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who donated, fundraised, shared resources, attended events, or helped amplify the campaign online. Your support helps create safer communities rooted in healing, dignity, and prevention.

Thank you for standing with survivors during Denim Day 2026 and throughout the year.

Please consider making a donation today.

 
 
 

Denim Day Merch

This year’s Denim Day merch brought the campaign into communities, classrooms, workplaces, rallies, and conversations across the country. From limited-edition apparel and tote bags to buttons, stickers, and downloadable resources, supporters showed up in powerful and creative ways to help spread awareness and stand with survivors.

Every merch purchase helped support Peace Over Violence’s survivor-centered programs and prevention work throughout the year. Thank you to everyone who wore, shared, gifted, posted, and showed up in Denim Day gear this season.

Missed this year’s drop? You can still explore official Denim Day merch and resources in our online shop.

 
 
 

2026 Campaign Sponsors & Partners

Denim Day 2026 would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors, partners, advocates, and community supporters. Thank you for helping amplify survivor voices and making this year’s campaign such a meaningful success.

We are grateful to everyone who stood with Peace Over Violence this Denim Day and throughout Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

 
 

Save the Date 

Join us for next year’s Denim Day on Wednesday, April 28, 2027. Wear your denim, use your voice, and advocate for survivors all year long!

 
 
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