[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10906]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING APRIL 25, 2007, AS DENIM DAY IN LOS ANGELES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 1, 2007

  Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to join with Peace Over 
Violence, the Sexual Assault Awareness Campaign in Los Angeles, and the 
Los Angeles City Council in recognizing April 25, 2007, as Denim Day in 
Los Angeles.
  Denim Day was established to show solidarity with rape victims 
everywhere. In an outrageous court decision in 1997, an Italian judge 
argued that because a woman was wearing tight jeans that her attacker 
forced her to remove herself, then the crime was not rape. Appalled by 
the verdict women in the Italian Parliament protested, by wearing denim 
to work. Their willingness to stand up for the rights of victims of 
sexual assault and rape empowered communities around the world to do 
the same.
  For 9 consecutive years, sexual assault awareness advocates 
throughout Los Angeles have come together through Denim Day activities 
to call attention to the terrible crimes of rape and other sexual 
assaults and to say to the world that there is never an excuse. 
Domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault affect women, children, and 
men of all racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds. While one 
person, organization, agency or community cannot eliminate sexual 
assault alone, together we can educate our communities to prevent these 
attacks.
  I will continue to fight for the rights of victims of sexual assault 
and domestic violence, and express my strong support for all programs 
aimed at the elimination of all violence against women. I am honored to 
recognize April 25, 2007, as Denim Day in Los Angeles and encourage 
everyone to wear jeans in support of the victims and the fight against 
domestic violence and sexual assault.

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