ywrape crisis center: Denim Day in NJ 2010

The YWCA Bergen County Rape Crisis Center celebrated the first official statewide observance of Denim Day in NJ on Thursday, April 28th, by publicly recognizing local legislators, community members and supporters during a ceremony on the steps of the Bergen County Justice Center in Hackensack. Denim Day is dedicated to raising awareness about the prevention of sexual violence, and the YWCA Rape Crisis Center spearheaded efforts to adopt it as an annual statewide observance in New Jersey.

Legislators honored for being instrumental in the passage of the resolution in January included Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Connie Wagner and Charlotte Vandervalk. They were joined by supporters including Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, Hackensack Mayor Marlin G. Townes, Bergen County Sheriff Leo McGuire, Englewood Councilwoman Charlotte Bennett Schoen, and Bergen County Freeholder Robert Hermansen.

The Rape Crisis Center also partnered with high schools in Teaneck, Hackensack, Lyndhurst and Tenafly to create and present on-site Denim Day education programs for students.

Wearing jeans in April has been an international symbol of protest of harmful attitudes about rape since 1997, when an Italian Supreme Court decision overturned a rape conviction because the victim wore tight jeans. After the decision, women in the Italian Parliament protested by wearing jeans to work. This April marks the 11th year Denim Day has been observed in the U.S.