College of the Desert and Partners Against Violence recognize Denim Day during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. On the last Wednesday of the month, Denim Day is observed.

Denim Day was established over 30 years ago after a young woman in Italy was blamed for her own sexual assault due to the tight jeans she was wearing at the time.

People around the world wear denim every year as a display of solidarity for survivors and to spread awareness about sexual assault and consent.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over half of women and 1 in 3 men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime.

Moreover, more than 4 in 5 female abuse survivors disclosed that they were abused before turning 25.

This Denim Day, College of the Desert students were invited to write messages on several pairs of jeans on display to show their support for survivors.

“To actually see and to actually like, have it on the table... like, this is what they were wearing. And to realize that these children, these women, that these men were all victimized…It's heartbreaking to see. And it's infuriating. It's frustrating...I'm writing, "You are worthy,"" said Kelly Merchant, College of the Desert student.

College of the Desert student, DJ Nunley, said that a display showing different articles of clothing that people were wearing when they were assaulted, including a child's school uniform, affected him deeply.

“I would say [I feel] terrified and fearful. Because I'm a father myself and reading the one about the child who was molested by her stepfather until her mother got home. It's just like, it's kind of like upsetting to know that a person you could trust which your child would actually hurt them," said DJ Nunley, College of the Desert student.

“Perpetrators are mainly people that we know," said Sara Shook, the Program Director for Partners Against Violence, Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin. "It's not always strangers. 85% of the perpetrators are acquaintances of the survivor."

The Coachella Valley Partners Against Violence Office, was present at College of the Desert's Denim Day event as well. The organization's mission is to offer support services to survivors of violent crime, their families, and our community.

The Coachella Valley Partners Against Violence Office travels to local schools like College of the Desert to educate students on the resources that are available to them.

"We have our 24 hour hotline, we provide advocacy, and crisis intervention concealing during the reporting process, and we continue with the surveyor through the court process and we also provide counseling services," Shook said. "We work with all ages, and we work very closely with other organizations in the community. We are here for as long as a suborn needs us and all of our services are free and confidential."

This non-profit organization recognizes Denim Day as a means to globally unite people in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence.

"A lot of people say that they would love to be able to help, but maybe they don't have the money, time or resources," said Shook "But everyone has jeans! So today is our day to stand in solidity together."

To learn more about denim day, go to www.denimday.org.

And for a local resource, go to www.partnersagainstviolence.org