The Clothes Line project set up a booth near the Victory parking lot in honor of Denim Day on Wednesday April 27.
Denim Day started when in 1998 in Italy a 45-year-old driving instructor was convicted of raping an 17-year-old driving student.
The driving instructor filed for an appeal and the case made it all the way to the Italian Supreme Court where a judge decides to over turn the ruling.
The judge stated that since the victim was wearing tight jeans that she would have had to assist the driving instructor in taking them off. Therefore it was consensual and not rape.
The women on the Italian Parliament were so enraged by this that they all wore jeans to work that day in protest of the courts decision.
Since 1999 the Peace Over Violence Organization has hosted Denim day every year.
Holly Hagan a buyer for the bookstore in association with the Clothes Line Project hosts Denim Day at Pierce College every year. The event asks students and faculty members to wear jeans to work and school.
The Clothes Line Project also hosts an event every year in October for Domestic Violence Awareness month.
The event s asks students and faculty members who have been victims or know victims of Domestic Violence or Sexual abuse to write there story on a Tee Shirt that will then be hung on clothes lines for all to see.
“At some point we hope that the shirts will span from one end of the mall to the other,” said Hagan.
The colorful shirts are intended to catch the eyes of those walking by so they can read the stories and become aware.
“I have a lot of friends that have been victims of abuse,” said Edgar Deleon an 18-year-old psychology major. “I have a lot of respect for the people putting there stories out. It really gets to me.”
The tragic stories touched the hearts of those who stopped to read them. As well as inspired others to tell there tails.
“My mom told me that my cousins were molested by there father and they didn’t know it wasn’t’ okay,” said Silvia Ramirez a 19-year-old pre vet major. “I think this is really good. People should know they don’t need to be afraid and they should tell someone.”
There were volunteers from students and faculty members helping to get the message out.
“It’s not right you shouldn’t be subjected to rape because of the clothes you’re wearing,” said Susan Perkins a 25-year-old psychology major. “No matter what you go through the is someone that has been through what you have and is willing to help you.”
The Clothes Line Project will be back on the mall at Pierce College in October for Domestic Violence Awareness month. The exact date has yet to be determined.
