Placer County recognizes Denim Day to honor sexual assault survivors

The entrance of the Santucci Justice Center donned denim Wednesday afternoon as the Placer County District Attorney's Office, the Placer County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and community partners honored Denim Day. Denim Day is recognized on the last Wednesday of April in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month to practice solidarity and support survivors, according to DenimDay.org. The campaign was launched in 1999 after an Italian Supreme Court ruling to overturn a rape conviction because the victim was wearing tight jeans. Lannie Waters, SART Coordinator for Placer County, said Wednesday's display included 120 pairs of jeans to "stand together against victim blaming and the misconceptions surrounding sexual assault," with each representing a survivor who has received care in the county. The display featured jeans of various styles and colors, including a white pair representing the number of victims who did not come forward and a pair with a rainbow belt representing the LGBTQ+ community. Shasta Wright, Stand Up Placer's safe house manager, said the pants were decorated by survivors in the organization's safe house. The jeans were decorated with various images and awareness messaging like, "No one deserves violence," "It can happen to anyone," and, "You are never forgotten." "Each pair of jeans presents there's a person, a story," Waters said. Waters said the number of jeans hanging shows more education is needed and the importance of empowerment for victims of violence. "This is something that is a public emergency; it needs to be addressed," she said. "It needs to be prioritized in the community so more can come forward." SART aims to be that support by providing victim advocacy, immediate medical care and criminal justice services for victims of sexual assault. Waters said her team and Stand Up Placer, which serves as the advocacy team, has educational resources and programming throughout the county to support victims that expands beyond sexual assault exams. "We respond at all times," said Emalee Beavers, SART advocacy coordinator for Stand Up Placer. "On holidays, at 2 a.m., on the weekends. It's a 24/7 program because we know that sexual assault is not a business-hour problem." Louise Arquilla, chief programming officer for Stand Up Placer, noted the organization was launched as a volunteer movement during the rape crisis movement in the 1970s and added, "Almost 50 years later, we are still here advocating for the needs of sexual assault survivors. … We welcome all survivors of sexual assault, whether they chose to report to law enforcement or not." The Denim Day jeans installation will remain hanging through Friday, Waters confirmed. "They have a community here that believes them and we're here to support," Waters said, noting the importance of spreading awareness as Placer County continues to grow. Additionally, the DA's Office is inviting survivors to share their voices on Survivor Advocacy Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 14 at the State Capitol in Sacramento for a day of connection, empowerment and advocacy. "Survivors deserve more than to be heard - they deserve to be part of the conversation shaping the policies that impact their lives," the DA's Office said. More information about Survivor Advocacy Day or registration to attend can be found at placer.ca.gov/10776/Annual-Advocacy-Day. Information about the SART team, Stand Up Placer or available resources can be found at placer.ca.gov/SART, placer.ca.gov/SAResource and standupplacer.org.