April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. To help increase awareness in Dodge County, PAVE is promoting participation in Denim Day. Demin Day began in Italy. In 1992, a young woman was sexually assaulted by her driver's education instructor. He was initially convicted, but the case was overturned on appeal in 1999, with the High Court in Italy declaring that the victim wore such tight jeans that the perpetrator could not have removed them himself, therefore she willingly participated. Women of the Italian Legislature all wore jean in protest of the decision. As the news spread, so did “Denim Day”. California was the first state in the United States to hold a Demin Day and this year, Wisconsin is joining the awareness efforts. On Wednesday, April 27
th, Denim Day will be celebrated across the globe. PAVE is asking that anyone interested in participating to please contact them for details at 887-3810 or
pave@peopleagainstaviolentenvironment.com. PAVE is especially hoping that businesses will participate so the visibility of Denim Day is seen across the county.
Summit Credit Union in Beaver Dam is the first business to agree to participate in Denim Day. They will be hanging posters with Denim Day information and collecting donations from staff to wear jeans that day. Lynnette Hoch, Branch Manager at Summit Credit Union in Beaver Dam says, “It is important to be involved with programs that connects consumers, community causes, and cooperative organizations to improve people’s lives. Demin Day is a wonderful way to do just that.”
PAVE appreciates Summit's commitment to our community and hopes other businesses will join us in brining awareness about victimization in Dodge County.
