FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 28, 2020
CONTACT: Beth Seibold, ENDGBV, Email: eseibold@endgbv.nyc.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY:

Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Marks
10th Annual “Denim Day NYC” with First-Ever Virtual Rally

NEW YORK, NY – On Wednesday, the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) will mark the 10th annual Denim Day NYC rally against sexual violence at denimday.nyc where survivors, advocates, community organizations, City and elected officials will go to show their support through a “virtual” march and rally.

One in three women and one in six men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime. New York City’s goal is to stand with survivors, raise awareness, and promote mutual respect. An important part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April) is “Denim Day” when people across the world wear denim to raise awareness of sexual assault which can include rape or attempted rape, and forced or any unwanted sexual contact. Denim Day is the universal response to a 1998 overturned rape conviction in Italy. In that case, the judge ruled against the survivor having reasoned the survivor’s “tight jeans” implied consent because her assailant would have needed her cooperation to remove her jeans in order to assault her.

For the past nine years, Denim Day NYC has kicked off with a march led by the Denim Day NYC committee across the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn Borough Hall to a rally in Foley Square. With New York’s “Stay At Home” directive in place, this year’s first-ever virtual rally will offer an impactful way to continue the important campaign.

This year’s virtual rally revolves around the theme, #AViolenceFreeFutureNeeds, asking supporters to share ideas on how to create a future without sexual violence. Rally participants can use computers, phones or devices to virtually “check-in” at denimday.nyc for the rally, to share ideas and to take the 2020 Denim Day pledge in support. ENDGBV will also show solidarity in this time of social distancing by joining up with its Denim Day partner in Los Angeles, Peace Over Violence, to host a live, bi-coastal virtual rally at 5pm EST on the Peace Over Violence YouTube channel. The live streamed rally will feature survivors and advocates from both coasts discussing the issue of sexual violence and what can be done to prevent it.

WHO: Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV)
Denim Day NYC Committee

WHAT: 10th Annual Denim Day NYC Rally

WHEN: Wednesday, April 29, 2020, all-day

WHERE: Denim Day NYC website

Participate in several ways: 

1. Take the pledge: Visit denimday.nyc/2020pledge and pledge to work towards a future free of sexual violence and sexual assault.
2. Submit a video: Record a video message (60 seconds or less, recorded horizontally) that shows off your best denim AND tells us what #AViolenceFreeFutureNeeds. You may be featured on the Denim Day website and/or social media at the rally.
3. Share this across your networks: Share this information widely, and lend your support to building a violence-free future. Consider tagging three friends, family members, neighbors or colleagues and challenging them to take the pledge with you!
4. Join the virtual march and rally on Wednesday, April 29th: Join the march and attend the rally virtually by using your computer or mobile device to “check-in” at virtual stops. If you are able, show off your best denim outfit and/or accessories and tag the following: @nycagainstabuse @denimdaynyc #DenimDayNYC #ENDGBV

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About The Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence
The Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) develops policies and programs, provides training and prevention education, conducts research and evaluations, performs community outreach, and operates the New York City Family Justice Centers. We collaborate with City agencies and community stakeholders to ensure access to inclusive services for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence (GBV). GBV can include intimate partner and family violence, elder abuse, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. Read more about the term.

The NYC Family Justice Centers are co‐located multidisciplinary service centers providing vital social services, civil legal, and criminal justice assistance for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence and their children—all under one roof.