Community Corner

Wear Denim to Bring Awareness to Sexual Assault

Victims Assistance Services will celebrate National Denim Day on April 24.

Victims of sexual assault can feel alone, that they aren’t believed, or even worse, that the attack was their fault.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Victims Assistance Services (VAS), which serves Westchester residents who are victims of crime, is hoping to let survivors know there are those who understand, and can help them heal from the trauma of sexual assault. 

VAS is partnering with other local organizations and businesses to get all decked out in denim on April 24 to celebrate National Denim Day to raise awareness and funding for sexual assault and victim services. 

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“It’s [Denim Day] really an attempt to mobilize our communities around raising awareness around sexual violence with the hopes of reducing stigma and shame, and encouraging folks to know where they can find help,” said Becca DeSimone, VAS’s manager of sexual assault services.

Click here for more on VAS’ services and Sexual Assault Awareness month. 

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Denim Day was started by Peace Over Violence in 1999 as an educational campaign where the community, officials, students and businesses would wear jeans or denim as a way of speaking out against the way sexual assault victims are treated by the criminal justice system, as well as the misconceptions and stigma imposed on them by society.

“It is a protest against the ‘rape myth’ or ‘rape culture’ we live in that normalizes, accepts and minimizes gender based violence,” said DeSimone. “In the media lately, in terms of sexual abuse and violence, there is a lack of response from professionals and parents. We’ve heard of bullying towards the victims as if they some how contributed to their assault or deserved it. We really want to encourage conversations and awareness, and help people know there are people that support them if and when it was to happen. There are safe places to go.” 

VAS and participating organizations are holding several events around the county to celebrate National Denim Day. VAS plans to partner with SUNY Purchase College to table set up a table in the school’s wellness center to educate those on campus about their services and to spread the message that, "There is no excuse and never an invitation to rape."

“We talk about how not only what violence looks like, but what a non-violent alternative might be,” said DeSimone. “ We brainstorm what a healthy relationship might look like, and what type of relationship they may want and how they can be a good partner. We like to focus on all the dynamics of dating and how to help prevent a violent situation. Or how to lookout for friend in danger and intervene in a safe way.”

Individuals from partnering organizations and businesses—some of which include Family Services of Westchester, Office for Women, Hawthorne Country Day School, Yonkers Police and SUNY Purchase College—have pledged to wear denim and donate $5 to VAS’s sexual assault crisis program. If you can’t wear jeans that day you can also purchase a handmade denim pin.

If you would like to participate in Denim Day or make a donation to VAS’s sexual assault crisis program contact Becca DeSimone at (914) 345-3113. For more information on Denim Day visit denimdayusa.org.


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