Staff Reports
Turning Point Domestic Violence Services has planned several activities this month to raise awareness about sexual assault.
This year is the 19th recognition of National Denim Day, an annual prevention day focusing on raising awareness about the issues and shedding light on misconceptions about sexual violence.
Turning Point is inviting community organizations and businesses to make a social statement by having their employees wear denim April 25 as a visible sign of support for survivors of sexual abuse and to encourage open discussion about how to reduce violence in communities.
The Denim Day campaign was triggered by a ruling from the Italian Supreme Court when a rape conviction was overturned. The justices decided that since the victim was wearing tight jeans, she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, women in the Italian Parliament wore jeans to work in solidarity with the victim.
Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against destructive attitudes about sexual assault.
Turning Point invites local agencies and businesses who are participating in Denim Day to register by emailing elisabethjones@ turningpointdv.org so that your organization can be recognized for participating.
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Visit turningpointdv.org.
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Domestic violence awareness activities events in April include:
- Continuing through April 27, “What Were You Wearing” art installations are on display on the campuses of Ivy Tech Community College – Columbus and IUPUC as well as the Bartholomew County Public Library. These installations pair representative outfits worn by survivors of sexual assault and captioned with their own words.
- 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Turning Point will screen “Audrie and Daisy,” a documentary examining the effects on two young women and those around them once they discover the sexual assault crimes against them have been caught on camera. A panel discussion will follow the film at 1 p.m.
- From 4 to 10:30 p.m. April 24, Amazing Joe’s will have a “Kick Back Night — a dine-to-donate fundraiser” to support Turning Point’s programming about sexual assault and domestic violence. A flyer is needed to participate and is available at turningpointdv.org/events. Amazing Joe’s will donate 10 percent of your food bill to support Turning Point if you submit the flyer with your bill.
- On Denim Day April 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 25, the Feminism Club at IUPUC will partner with Turning Point for a display in the main hall of the Learning Center. A mayoral proclamation will be read at 11:30 a.m.
The public is invited to all activities. No reservations are required.
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