April ended with a march on our local campus to raise awareness of Sexual Assault in our community. Everyone was encouraged to wear denim (jeans) as well, in protest of a 1999 Italian ruling where the judge claimed that because a rape victim was wearing denim, she must have aided her assailant! The women of the Italian Parliment wore denim in a unified protest of the ruling. The movement grew and every year since, during April (Sexual Assault Awareness Month), women are encouraged to wear denim in a similar act of protest against ignorant myths of violent acts.
Here I am hugging our local shelter's volunteer coordinator in front of the sign we marched behind. "Not On Our Campus!" Afterwards, we listened to many department heads pledge their support as well as hear many victims stand up and speak out! An emotional day.....