By Diana Meza Cabrera

April 23 is Denim Day — an annual international campaign that brings awareness to sexual assault.

In 1997, a teenage girl in Italy was picked up by her 45-year-old driving instructor for her first lesson. He drove her to an isolated location, pulled her out of the car, and forcefully raped her. The girl was courageous and despite his threats, she reported the incident and he was arrested. After his conviction the perpetrator appealed the sentence and the case went all the way to the Supreme Court.

In the final ruling, the Italian Supreme Court overturned the rape conviction because the victim was wearing tight skinny jeans at the time of the attack. The statement by the chief judge read “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”

The women in the Italian Parliament were outraged by the verdict and protested the court by wearing jeans to work. This action began the annual international demonstration known as Denim Day.

Every two minutes a person in the United States is sexually assaulted. Sexual assault has increased by 86 percent in El Dorado County.

There is much work to be done help us raise awareness and make South Lake Tahoe a safe and violence free community for everyone.

In observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month, we will be hosting free self-defense classes. Classes will be April 25 and April 26 from 11am-1pm at Escobar Training Grounds, 972 Tallac Ave., South Lake Tahoe. It is women and children ages 5-12.

Diana Meza Cabrera works for Live Violence Free.