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** Denim Day 2025 was a huge success!
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Thank you to all the advocates, educators, truth-tellers, survivors, allies, electeds, sponsors, students–everyone who made the conscious choice to wear jeans and make a social statement with their fashion statement this Denim Day. This year, we called on you to USE YOUR VOICE to speak up for prevention education and speak out against sexual violence in all its forms. You shared your stories, amplified others, educated your communities, and advocated for survivors’ rights.

To our elected officials who helped make this Denim Day possible–Supervisor Lindsey Horvath ([link removed]) , Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez ([link removed]) , Cm. Nithya Raman, ([link removed]) Cm. Eunisses Hernandez ([link removed]) , Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, ([link removed]) Cm. Katy Yaroslavsky ([link removed]) , Cm. Marqueece Harris-Dawson ([link removed]) , Cm. Monica Rodriguez ([link removed]) , Cm. Traci Park ([link removed]) , Assemblymember Blanca Rubio ([link removed]) , Cm. Bob Blumenfield ([link removed]) , Supervisor Hilda Solis ([link removed]) , Cm. Imelda Padilla ([link removed]) , Supervisor Janice Hahn ([link removed]) , Cm. John Lee ([link removed]) , and Cm. Ysabel Jurado ([link removed]) –we
thank you.

To our community partners and in-kind donors–Thrive Causemetics ([link removed]) , HaGomel ([link removed]) , For Goodness Cakes ([link removed]) , Honeystitch Embroidery ([link removed]) , World Harvest Food Bank ([link removed]) , and StickerGiant ([link removed]) –your support elevated the rally into a community fair and gave us the opportunity to connect, educate, and advocate. Thank you.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month may be over, but our prevention & education programming continues all year long–keep using your voice to support survivors and shift the culture!
Give Now ([link removed])


** Use Your Voice!
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On April 30th, 2025, communities across the country and the world came together to observe Denim Day under the timely theme USE YOUR VOICE.

Supporters, advocates, and survivors alike raised their voices in solidarity—amplifying stories, advocating for change, and reminding the world that silence is never the answer to sexual violence. From moving speeches to powerful social media messages to jeans worn with a purpose, every action helped spark critical conversations and show support for those affected by sexual assault.
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This year’s theme emphasized that your voice is a tool for connection, hope, and change. Whether through personal storytelling, public advocacy, or quiet acts of empathy, using your voice made a difference.

Thank you to everyone who stood with us and showed that we will not remain silent. Together, we used our voices—and we were heard.


** 2025 HIGHLIGHTS
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** Press Conference & Rally at LA City Hall
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POV hosted our 26th annual Denim Day Rally at Los Angeles City Hall in Downtown LA with over 300 attendees ready to get loud in jeans! Denim Day Founder & POV Executive Director Patti Giggans emceed the event, welcoming Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas to the stage to kick off the program with an enthusiastic musical performance.

Speakers included:
* Monica Rodriguez - LA City Councilmember District 7
* Patti Giggans - POV Executive Director/CEO & Founder of Denim Day
* Peggie Reyna - POV Director of Deaf, Disabled and Elder Services
* Andrea Welsing - Director of the Office of Violence Prevention, LA County Department of Public Health
* Nicolle Perras - Executive Director, Sexual Assault Council, Office of Violence Prevention, LA County Department of Public Health
* Hilda Solis - LA County Board of Supervisors, District 1
* Nathan Hochman - LA County District Attorney
* Eunisses Hernandez - LA City Councilmember District 1
* Heather Hutt - LA City Councilmember District 10
* Amy Turk - CEO, Downtown Women’s Center

Key highlights of the program included several participants sharing their own powerful stories of survivorship, the presentation of a Use Your Voice Award to Andrea Welsing for her work championing violence prevention as a public health issue in Los Angeles for decades, and the official launch of the Los Angeles County Sexual Assault Council (LACSAC). Led by Nicolle Perras, the LACSAC is a a multi-agency coalition of professionals and organizations that work collaboratively to address and prevent sexual assault throughout Los Angeles County.

POV Deputy Executive Director Yvette Lozano wrapped up the program with a live Empowerment Self-Defense & Safety demonstration that got everyone practicing their self-defense techniques, including the most powerful tool in their arsenal: their voice.

There were also several activations and community partners at the rally, including a chance to write a letter to survivors with our Violence Prevention Department, a healing arts & crafts activity with our longtime partner HaGomel, denim-inspired makeup & free goodies with our generous giving partner Thrive Causemetics, live embroidery done on site by Honeystitch Embroidery, specialty coffee from
Rabbit Coffee ([link removed]) , delicious homemade cupcakes from For Goodness Cakes, free fresh produce & snacks from World Harvest Food Bank, and so much more!

As soon as the rally ended, LA City Council members wore their denim to officially proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and April 30th as Denim Day 2025. Thank you again to all who showed up and used your voices!

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** Gear Up for Denim Day 2025 Event & Use Your Voice Awards
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We officially kicked off this year’s Denim Day campaign and theme–Use Your Voice–on April 3rd with a community event centered on advocacy, art, and recognition. We invited guests to engage in poetry and visual art as expressions of solidarity and healing with our partners at HaGomel. We also honored leaders in the movement against sexual violence with our Use Your Voice Awards:
* LA City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez for her dedication to advocating for justice and reform, particularly in marginalized communities, and her unwavering support for survivors.
* Carmen McDonald & the Survivor Justice Center for their commitment to supporting survivors in their pursuit of justice and healing.
* Gisèle Pelicot (in absentia) for using her voice to challenge injustice and ignite a movement for survivors in France following her public sexual assault case.

We’re grateful to all who joined us in launching Denim Day 2025: Use Your Voice. Your voices made the evening unforgettable.

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** Denim Day Around the US & the World
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We receive pledges from schools, organizations, groups, and individuals throughout the country and across the world–from here in our LA backyard to Belgium, Croatia, and Nigeria! Hundreds of elected officials have proclaimed Denim Day on the last Wednesday in April and millions of participants have worn denim with a purpose to show solidarity with survivors during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Sexual violence is a universal issue–survivors come from every walk of life, every continent, everywhere. Thank you to each person who wore your jeans, spread awareness, and used your voice–in person, online, and in your own language–to show solidarity with survivors of sexual violence all over the world.

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** Use Your Voice Line at 1-844-DENIM99
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For Denim Day 2025, we encouraged participants to leave a voicemail message on our brand-new Use Your Voice line ([link removed]) . We offered it as a space to leave a message of solidarity, hope–even protest. Callers told their stories, shared empowering words for survivors, recited inspiring poetry, and told us their vision of a safer world — one without sexual violence.


You can still leave us a message at 1-844-DENIM99 (1-844-336-4699)! Give us a call today and let your voice be heard.

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** The Denim Day Pledge
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Thank you to the thousands who took the pledge this Denim Day—your voices joined with hundreds of thousands across the country to take a stand and answer the question: Why will you wear denim?

Here are a few of the responses we received:


** “I will wear denim to stand up against all forms of sexual violence and to continue creating spaces where survivors feel safe, believed, and supported in their healing journey. I wear denim in solidarity with survivors of child sexual abuse and male survivors, whose experiences are too often overlooked. No one should carry their pain alone.”
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**
“Because I stand with all victims of violence including sexual violence and support all efforts to educate others about sexual assault. It is through collective action like this that lasting systemic change occurs.”
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**
“I wear denim because I support survivors, being one myself. We deserve to be believed, we demand justice, and we all want a world where no one has to experience violence.”

“
For all the survivors, including those whose voices were never heard.”

“
For my grandmother, my mother, my daughter, my aunts, myself and all the women and men impacted by sexual violence.”

“
I will wear denim to show my support for survivors of sexual abuse and for myself as a survivor as a reminder that we are not alone and every voice can make an impact.”
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It’s not too late to take the pledge ([link removed]) and let your voice be heard–and make the commitment to wearing your denim next year on April 29th, 2026!

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** Denim Day in the News!
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Our Denim Day event received news coverage from a variety of outlets. Here are some highlights:


** Fox 11 Los Angeles
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Denim Day rally in downtown LA ([link removed])


** LA This Week
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Denim Day 2025 ([link removed])


** LA CityView
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Denim Day 2025 Press Briefing ([link removed])


** LA Daily News
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By Jose Herrera

LA council commemorates Denim Day in support of sexual assault survivors ([link removed])


** Hawaii News Now
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Denim Day: Standing in solidarity with survivors and busting rape myths ([link removed])

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** Denim Day on Social Media
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This year, we saw incredible reach on social media! The campaign really took off with the support of influencers and followers sharing Denim Day messages across the world. We were so inspired to see content created that shared the history of the campaign and messages surrounding sexual violence education and consent.

Check out some of our favorite Instagram posts and reels:
* POV’s rally highlight reel ([link removed])
* DWC reel ([link removed])
* Dating Detectives Podcast reel ([link removed])
* Denim Makeup Masterclass with Thrive x POV ([link removed])
* SAAM with Thrive x POV ([link removed])
* Denim Day Italia reel ([link removed])
* Denim Day NYC step performance ([link removed])
* Denim Day Fashion Show in Atlanta ([link removed])
* First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s Denim Day CA (Sacramento) speech ([link removed])
* LA County Office of Education (LACOE) reel ([link removed])

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** Fundraising
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There are many ways to use your voice for survivors that will impact them not only during Denim Day but throughout the year. By donating to Peace Over Violence, you can ensure that our trauma-informed services are available around the clock and completely free for survivors and their families. Your donation funds our 24/7 crisis hotline & response, prevention & education programming, housing assistance, legal advocacy, and trauma counseling–services that survivors need to move forward & heal in the aftermath of violence.
Give Now ([link removed])
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** Denim Day Merch
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We love seeing participants from all over the country rocking our official Denim Day merch, whether you’re wearing one of our new Use Your Voice T-shirts ([link removed]) , passing out buttons ([link removed]) , enamel pins ([link removed]) , and stickers ([link removed]) in your organizations and communities, or carrying your action signs in our roomy Denim Day tote ([link removed]) . Thank you everyone who supported POV’s services by purchasing swag or downloading our digital Action Kit to prepare for Denim Day.

You can still gear up for next year by checking out our official s ([link removed]) ho ([link removed]) p ([link removed]) !

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** 2025 Campaign Sponsors & Partners
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Denim Day would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and partners. Thank you to everyone who helped make our 26th annual Denim Day a huge success!
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** How did you Denim Day?
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Send us your pictures and tell us your stories, follow, share and tag us on social media, or email us at [email protected].
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** 📣 SAVE THE DATE
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** Denim Day 2026 is
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** Wednesday, April 29th!
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** CONNECT WITH US
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** CONTACT
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Metro Headquarters
1541 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90017

213.955.9090 (tel:213.955.9090) office
213.955.9093 (tel:213.955.9090) fax
213.785.2684 (tel:213.785.2684) video
213.785.2749 (tel:213.785.2749) video


**
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West San Gabriel Valley Center
892 N Fair Oaks Ave, Suite D
Pasadena, CA 91103

626.584.6191 (tel:626.584.6191) office
626.584.6193 (tel:626.584.6193) fax
626.243.7972 (tel:626.243.7972) video


**
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** 24/7 LA RAPE & BATTERING HOTLINE
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626.793.3385 (tel:6267933385)
310.392.8381 (tel:3103928381)
213.626.3393 (tel:2136263393)


**
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Information
Support
Referrals
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Advocacy
Counseling
Self-Defense

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** Committed to social service, social change and social justice
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Copyright (C) 2025 Peace Over Violence. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you are a POV supporter.
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