By Jenna Jarrah
CORRESPONDENT
On Wednesday, Peace Over Violence held its 27th Denim Day Rally at Los Angeles City Hall, where hundreds of participants wearing denim stood in solidarity with sexual violence survivors and demanded an end to such violence.
Denim Day, which is a project of Peace Over Violence, brought together survivors, advocates, students, and community leaders to advocate for relationships, families, and communities free from sexual, domestic, and interpersonal violence.
“It’s a very important day in the history of our organization,” said Patti Giggans, founder of Denim Day and CEO of Peace Over Violence.
Denim Day, which is recognized on the last Wednesday in April for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, was inspired by a 1999 ruling in the Italian Supreme Court thatoverturned a rape conviction of an 18-year-old girl who was raped by the 45-year-old driving instructor who was taking her to her first driving lesson seven years prior.
The Italian justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped the person who raped her remove them, and thereby implied consent.
Consequently, the rapist, who was convicted in 1992, was released from prison. Following the reversal, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.
Flanked by Elya Braden, founder and president of HaGomel, and Councilman John Lee, Patti Giggans, founder of Denim Day and executive director of Peace Over Violence, speaks during the annual Denim Day rally supporting survivors of sexual violence at Los Angeles City Hall on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Gabee Benson, a volunteer at HaGomel, hangs their quilt and jeans during Peace Over Violence’s annual Denim Day rally supporting survivors of sexual violence at Los Angeles City Hall on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Bryanna Charles, program coordinator at the Downtown Women’s Center, and her coworkers take pictures at a digital photo booth during Peace Over Violence’s annual Denim Day rally supporting survivors of sexual violence at Los Angeles City Hall on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rain Giggans-Ledley, 9, and her grandmother Ellen Ledly, center, wife of Patti Giggans, founder of Denim Day and executive director of Peace Over Violence, listen to Giggans speak with Peggie Reyna, left, a staff member at POV, during the annual Denim Day rally supporting survivors of sexual violence at Los Angeles City Hall on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Patti Giggans, second from right, founder of Denim Day and executive director of Peace Over Violence, poses with BET talent including music artist Lady London, right, during the annual Denim Day rally supporting survivors of sexual violence at Los Angeles City Hall on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
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Flanked by Elya Braden, founder and president of HaGomel, and Councilman John Lee, Patti Giggans, founder of Denim Day and executive director of Peace Over Violence, speaks during the annual Denim Day rally supporting survivors of sexual violence at Los Angeles City Hall on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
That year, inspired by the Italian lawmakers, the California Senate and Assembly wore denim on the steps of the Capitol in Sacramento in solidarity with the protests happening in Italy and around the world.
Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it.
“It just came to me that we should all be wearing jeans in protest for all the myths, the lies, and the misconceptions that are told about why women and girls are subjected to sexual violence and sexual assault,” said Giggans.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly half of women and more than 1 in 6 men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetimes, and 4 out of 5 female rape survivors reported that they were first raped before age 25.
This year’s theme, “Use Your Voice,” encourages people to be “upstanders.” The opposite of a bystander, an upstander sees what is going on and tries to make adifference by using their voice, explained Giggans.
This year’s Denim Day comes at a time amid renewed national attention on allegations involving high-profile figures, including Jeffery Epstein, Cesar Chavez, and former U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales.
“Denim Day reminds us that the shame of sexual violence belongs to the perpetrators, but prevention belongs to everyone,” said Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “Especially in these times, when powerful economic and political leaders normalize abuse and exploitation, it’s up to all of us to denounce abusers and center survivors. Our daily solidarity is required more now than ever.”
Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez said, “Today, we stand in solidarity with survivors by wearing denim, a powerful reminder that there is never any excuse for sexual assault. But survivors deserve more than symbolism. We must dismantle the systems that have enabled sexual violence to persist and demand real accountability, including a full release of the Epstein Files.”
Of their many objectives, Peace over Violence pushes for accountability for those who commit acts of sexual violence.
“Right now sexual violence is not in the shadows. It is front and center,” noted Giggans.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Heather Hutt added, “Too often, sexual assault is met with doubt before listening, and survivors are forced to fight just to be heard. This Denim Day, we honor their strength. We see you, we believe you, and we’re committed to building a Los Angeles where your safety and voice set precedence.”
Denim Day was officially declared by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaragosa in 2004, and this year, California, Colorado, Louisiana, and New York passed resolutions officially recognizing April 30th as Denim Day.