The Rape Crisis Center of the Coastal Empire and Empire Construction kicked off Sexual Assault Awareness Month and their annual “Jeans for Justice” initiative at 309 W 36^th St. in downtown Savannah.

Wearing their best jeans for the occasion, Rape Crisis Center representatives, the Empire Construction crew, and other community members gathered to kick off Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a “Jeans for Justice”-themed observance and photo opportunity. The kick-off venue, 309 W 36^th St., will also serve as the site of a planned “Student Safety Night” fundraiser to benefit the Rape Crisis Center. The drop-in, open house-style event from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 13 is sponsored by Empire Construction.

The “Jeans for Justice” campaign came about in 1999, when a judge in Italy overturned the rape conviction of a 45-year-old driving instructor named Carmine Cristiano. He had been serving a two-years and eight-month prison sentence for raping an 18-year-old student. The appeals court said the girl must have consented because it would have been “impossible” to remove tight pants such as jeans “without the cooperation of the person wearing them.”

To protest the ruling, a group of women lawmakers wore jeans to Parliament the following day and displayed signs that read, “Jeans: An Alibi for Rape.” Protesting lawmakers encouraged Italian women to go on a “skirt strike” and wear jeans to work to show solidarity in opposition to the court. As news of this ruling spread across the world, protests went global and “Jeans for Justice” was established to bring awareness to victim-blaming and sexual assault.

“We are grateful to Empire Construction for getting involved with the ‘Jeans for Justice’ campaign,” said Rape Crisis Center Executive Director Kesha Gibson-Carter. “Empire Construction’s involvement with the Rape Crisis Center is special because the construction field is predominately male and unfortunately, men commit the majority of violent sexual acts. This is an opportunity for us to acknowledge that men are our likely partners in our effort to prevent rape and that all men are not rapists. Men can help stop rape! We are looking forward to opening the line of communication between men and the topic of sexual violence with this event and throughout the month of April and beyond.”

The Rape Crisis Center is asking for the community’s participation in the “Jeans for Justice” campaign in protest of sexual violence against women in our community. Contact the Rape Crisis Center to learn how individuals as well as local businesses can get involved with this important movement. For more information about the Rape Crisis Center, please visit www.rccsav.org.