Rape, meet Denim Day

This morning two Duke lacrosse players were arrested in what will likely be the highest profile rape case the country has seen in decades. The fact that DNA tests did not lead to the two men — although other evidence did — will make it all the more controversial.

Coincidentally, tomorrow is the 8th annual Denim Day LA, which encourages Angelenos to wear denim to raise awareness about sexual assault. We weren't sure what the connection between denim and rape was, either; turns out it came from an Italian judge's response to the rape of a 17-year-old girl:

“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.” Enraged by the verdict, within a matter of hours the Women in the Italian Parliament launched into immediate action and protested by wearing jeans to work.

The LA Commission on Assaults Against women started Denim Day LA to point out that no matter how tight your jeans are, no matter how much coin slot you show, you're never "asking for it." So bust out those True Religion jeans for tomorrow's rally at 11am in parking lot #7 at the Staples Center, where Mrs. Mayor Villaraigosa and Calista Flockhart will speak. Or just wear 'em to work — if your supervisors look askance, tell 'em it's for a good cause.

photo by wilhei55 via flickr