City of Joplin joins Denim Day to take a stand against rape

(From the City of Joplin)

On Wednesday, April 26, many businesses, schools, and organizations in Missouriwill hold events in recognition of Denim Day, a rape awareness campaign. Nearly 1 in 5 women and approximately 1 in 71 men in the United States have been raped in their lifetime.

The City of Joplin is joining this recognition to take a stand against rape. Blue jeans are worn by millions of Americans every day, but employees of the City of Joplin will wear their denim on Wednesday, April 26 for a special reason – to step forward and take a stand against rape.

“DenimDay is an important opportunity to raise awareness and prevent sexual assault against women,” said Cynthia Burnham,Medical Services Coordinator at Joplin Health Department.“We urge
everyone in the community to join us in wearing jeans on Denim Day.”

Wearing jeans during Sexual Assault Awareness Month became an international symbol of
protest against common attitudes about rape in 1999 when an Italian High Courtoverturned a rape conviction. The justices reasoned that since the victim wore very tight jeans, the man who was accused of raping her could not have removed her jeans by himself, so the victim must have willingly participated.

Women in the Italian Legislature protested the decision by wearing jeans. As news of the decision spread, so did the protest. In April 1999 the state of California established the first Denim Day in the United States.

“Every year since 1999, people have made a social statement by wearing jeans to protest the myths that surround rape and sexual assault,” said Burnham. “There’s no excuse and never an invitation to rape.”

“Rape can happen anywhere and at any time,” said Burnham. “We must step forward and take a stand against rape.”

For more information about Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, contact Cynthia Burnham at 417-624-0820, ext. 254.