Denim Day History: In 1992 an 18-year-old in Italy was picked up by her driving instructor to

begin a driving lesson. Soon after she was raped on the side of the road by the instructor.

She pressed charges and won her case. The instructor appealed, and the case went to the

Italian High Court. In 1999 the court overturned the conviction with a member of the High

Court declaring that since the victim wore very tight jeans, the instructor could not have

removed them himself, therefore the victim must have willingly participated. Women of 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 U.S.

Now on Denim Day, people wear denim and pins that say ‘why denim?’ to help spread the

word. At SMC, we partner with Community Violence Solutions to put on a visual display either

in Oliver Hall or in the Quad (depending on weather).