MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Marquette Women’s Center held a Denim Day Awareness Walk in downtown Marquette Wednesday.
This marked the last day of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, after holding numerous other meetings to help survivors throughout April.
“We go into the community and provide support,” said Hannah Holma, the program director at the Women’s Center. “Doing things like an awareness walk, getting out there, letting survivors know that we’re here for them and that we support them.”
Denim Day began in Italy 1992, where a woman was sexually assaulted by her driving instructor. The perpetrator was released from jail, claiming that the victim was wearing tight jeans and had to help remove them, calling it consensual.
This caused an uproar in activism throughout the world that remains to this day.
“We know that it doesn’t matter what a person is wearing,” said Holma. “We should just respect boundaries and obtain consent.”
Roughly one in every four women, and one in every 26 men report as victims of sexual assault. Compared to those who might not report an incident, you never know who may have experienced one.
“Of the five cars that just passed us, easily three of those people have experienced a sexual assault,” said Holma. “For an hour we’re walking down the main streets of Marquette, and it’s showing how many people who can see that there’s a group of people who support them.”
The Women’s Center welcomes voices from all angles. Executive Director Jennine Frazier says when you lift up one person, you make the world a better place.
“It’s a very individual experience for everyone,” said Frazier. “Those who might be a survivor, who might be helping survivors, or might be supporting survivors.”
Todays Denim Day Awareness Walk went from Harlow Park down to the Marquette Commons.
For sexual assault outreach, visit rainn.org or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.
