As Today’s Denim Day Raises Sexual Assault Awareness, Police Fear Lockdown Has Stifled Calls for Help

Wednesday is Denim Day, created to bring attention to victims of sexual abuse. In Pasadena, calls reporting abuse have dropped – but police are concerned, not cheered.

Law enforcement officials and counselors say they fear that domestic violence is actually increasing as abusers face stress-induced triggers while locked at home with potential victims who now feel as if they have no escape.

France has seen a 30 percent increase in abuse reports. Several states in the U.S. have also seen an increase. Several celebrities have adopted the cause and donated millions to provide resources for women seeking shelter during the imposition “safer at home” orders.

For the past 20 years, local nonprofit Peace Over Violence has run its Denim Day campaign on a Wednesday in April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“It takes cross-sector collaborations and educational awareness campaigns, such as Denim Day, to bring attention to this issue that continues to plague our society, and ensure we are all informed and equipped to combat sexual violence,” said Norma Fernandez, chair of Pasadena’s Commission on the Status of Women.

Mayor Terry Tornek issued a proclamation at last Monday’s City Council meeting.

“Each year we are provided an opportunity to show our true support for victims of all types of abuse,” said Police Chief John Perez. “It raises awareness and resources for organizations like Peace Over Violence so it’s our time to stand together against sexual, physical, and emotional abuse with a united message to all victims we are here for you.”

Some cities are seeing increases in abuse and sexual assault cases, but Pasadena officials are not and say that is a concern.

“We are seeing a decrease in our calls,” said Lt. Jesse Carrillo of the Pasadena Police Department. “I don’t know why that is, if they are in fear of contacting the police because the perpetrator is home with them as well.”

The department has seen an 18 percent decrease on average for the last 48 months, including a 7 decrease from February to March.

Making that important call for help isn’t easy, especially while living under a “Safer at Home” order.

“We’ve had victims who would to like step out or pretend they’re speaking to someone else, like a teacher at school,” said Yvette Lozano, director at Pasadena’s Peace over Violence location. “Some people take their phones to the restroom with them to be able to call and get support.”

According to Carrillo, the department was working with its community partners to help educate people about abusive relationships. “Just before all of this started we were doing the educational workshops and taking that out to the different community centers,” Carrillo said. “We were just talking about breaking the cycle of violence, and how to identify that you are in the cycle of violence and how to help yourself get out of there.”
Carrillo said counseling, advocacy and shelter is still being provided during the pandemic.

“We have a domestic abuse response team, a working relationship with Peace over Violence,” Carrillo said. “Their program is still in full effect, even though they may be telecommuting we still communicate with them daily. providing them the information that Peace over Violence needs to be able to reach out to the victims and offer the resources that were available pre-COVID-19 that are still available today.”

Denim Day began after an infamous 1998, the Italian Supreme Court decision overturned a rape conviction because the victim wore tight jeans.

The incident began when an 18-year old girl was picked up by her married 45-year old driving instructor for her very first lesson.

The diver driver took her to an isolated road, pulled her out of the car, wrestled her out of one leg of her jeans and raped her.

The driver threatened her with death if she told anyone, and forced her to drive him home. He was later arrested and convicted of rape charges.

But after the case made its way to Italy’s High Court it was overturned after the judges ruled that “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”

Enraged by the verdict, within a matter of hours the women in the Italian Parliament launched into immediate action and protested by wearing jeans to work.

This call to action motivated and emboldened the California Senate and Assembly to do the same. People all over the world were outraged, and wearing jeans became an international symbol of protest against attitudes and myths surrounding sexual assault. Denim Day was born.

On Tuesday, the City released a statement lauding Pasadena Peace Over Violence Executive Director Patti Giggans and her team “for their tireless work raising awareness about sexual violence, providing prevention education, and supporting survivors.”

For more information about Peace Over Violence, click here or call  (626) 584-6191.