Ending Domestic and Sexual Abuse in Mississippi

I think YOU are the right person

to bring

“Jeans for Justice”

to your workplace!

Click here to see more articles about "Jeans for Justice"

“Jeans for Justice” is the only public fundraiser that S.A.F.E., Inc. does each year, and it is designed primarily to raise awareness about sexual assault in our community. By participating in the “Jeans for Justice” Day on April 29th you show everyone that sees you that you take a stand against rape and sexual violence in our community. The donation of 5 dollars that we request from each participant is far outweighed by the powerful message you, your co-workers AND your employer send when wearing jeans and a Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness ribbon on April 29th.

If you’ve thought about doing the event, but you’re not sure how to start, or feel like you are too busy to cope with organizing in your work-place, please call me (662) 841-2273 & let me help out.

Each business, organization and individual who publically participates in this event shines a light of hope for victims and survivors to sexual violence right here in northeast Mississippi.

Please join us on April 29th, 2011.

Friday, April 29th 2011 is S.A.F.E., Inc. “Jeans for Justice” Day!
For the last three years, Tupelo and Lee County businesses have made donations to our rape crisis center in exchange for allowing their staff to wear jeans to work on that day. Each participating business receives a poster to display in their office which will provoke discussion and education around the issue of sexual assault. The purpose of the poster is to provide a fixture to spark discussion for employees “around the water cooler” so to speak on the issues of sexual assault and the judicial system.

This year we hope to expand our annual fundraiser to include more counties in our service area.

We encourage employers to allow employees to wear jeans to work on Friday, April 29th & make a $5.00 per person donation to S.A.F.E. Inc.

Get your workplace involved!

You may also participate as an individual!

The cost is $5.00 per person donation to S.A.F.E. Inc.

Get your workplace involved!
We provide you with posters, Sexual Assault Awareness Month pins
and information to host your own “Jeans for Justice” event.
Please email sonja@safe_comcast.net or call (662) 841-2273 or register online at www.safeshelter.net/justice/.
A short history of “Jeans for Justice”

In 1999, a judge in Italy overturned the 1998 rape conviction of a 45 year-old driving instructor who had been convicted of raping his 18-year-old student. A lower court had sentenced the defendant to 2 years and eight months in prison but the appeals court sent the case back for retrial and a higher court overturned the ruling on the basis of what the victim was wearing. The higher court ruled that it is impossible to take off tight pants such as jeans “without the cooperation of the person wearing them”, and said it was impossible if the victim is struggling. The court also doubted the testimony of the victim because she waited several hours to tell her parents she had been attacked.

Following the ruling, a group of female Italian lawmakers wore jeans to parliament. This action prompted women all over Italy to join in a “skirt strike” and wear jeans. Female TV personalities known for chic dress began to don only denim. A housewives’ federation offered a prize to any designer who could come up with “easy off jeans” and planned a jean march to the justice ministry. Union Official Stefania Sidoli said, “We thank the court for having enriched women’s wardrobes with a new garment. To the business suit and the little black dress, we can now add the anti-rape outfit: a comfortable and resistant pair of jeans.”

Now “Jeans for Justice” or “Denim Day” is a world-wide event that shows support

for victims and survivors of sexual violence.

Events like these let people know that rape is not a normal part of our community

and that we as citizens of northeast Mississippi do not condone behavior

that leads to or encourages any kind of violence, abuse, or assault.

Mary Katherine Spencer

Community Educator

S.A.F.E., Inc.

P.O. Box 985

Tupelo, Mississippi 38802

(662) 841-2273

maryk_safe@comcast.net

Friday, April 29th 2011 is S.A.F.E., Inc. “Jeans for Justice” Day!

For the last three years, Tupelo and Lee County businesses have made donations to our rape crisis center in exchange for allowing their staff to wear jeans to work on that day. Each participating business receives a poster to display in their office which will provoke discussion and education around the issue of sexual assault. The purpose of the poster is to provide a fixture to spark discussion for employees “around the water cooler” so to speak on the issues of sexual assault and the judicial system.

This year we hope to expand our annual fundraiser to include more counties in our service area.

We encourage employers to allow employees to wear jeans to work on Friday, April 29th & make a $5.00 per person donation to S.A.F.E. Inc.

Get your workplace involved!

You may also participate as an individual!

The cost is $5.00 per person donation to S.A.F.E. Inc.

[Event_Registration_Single event_id="1"]

It was a blustery day in Corinth for our roadside

“Jeans for Justice” painting party at the Daily Corinthian,

and we thank all of those who stopped in, waved, pulled over to chat or made a donation!

Reporter Drew Powell came over to check out the “Jeans for Justice” exhibit last week.

S.A.F.E., Inc. thanks WTVA for covering this event and letting people know what it’s all about.

http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Jeans-for-Justice-exhibit-begins/qi9eAxqieUahOXERTK4_1w.cspx

Sexual Assault Awareness Films

Jeans painted with messages about violence have been created by residents of northeast Mississippi from a wide variety of backgrounds and age groups in conjunction with S.A.F.E., Inc.’s  “Jeans for Justice” fund-raiser. The jeans reflect the individual artists’ feelings about violence in our community. Some jeans honor victims of violent crime, others state facts and statistics, and others send a message of hope.

“Although it’s just in its first week, I’m impressed with the number of people who have already been by to see the exhibit, says Melanie Deas, Executive Director of the Link Centre in Tupelo. “Personally, I find it very powerful. It is a little disturbing, but it’s a very important thing for people to experience. It reminds me a lot of reading of George Orwell’s “Road to Wigan Pier” in that it describes an ugliness that many people here are experiencing, but often deny, minimize or ignore. It is better to face violence though, lest we forget it exists.”

There is no charge to view the jeans, and they are on view weekdays from 8 AM to 6PM.

If the display moves you, come out to our “Jeans for Justice Painting Party” sponsored by the Tupelo Women’s Club on Sunday, April 10th from 2PM until 4 PM at the Link Center. You can create your own pair of jeans to help send a message about violence. Jeans will become a part of a traveling exhibition that touches the lives of many people in northeast Mississippi.

Jeans painted with messages about violence have been created by residents of northeast Mississippi from a wide variety of backgrounds and age groups in conjunction with our annual “Jeans for Justice” fund-raiser. The jeans reflect the individual artists’ feelings about violence in our community. Some jeans honor victims of violent crime, others state facts and statistics, and others send a message of hope.

Throughout the month of April 2011 you can find the display at the Link Center in Tupelo. There is no charge to view the jeans, and if the display moves you, come out to our “Jeans for Justice Painting Party” sponsored by the Tupelo Women’s Club on Sunday, April 10th from 2PM until 4 PM at the Link Center in Tupelo. You can create your own pair of jeans to help send a message about violence. Jeans will become a part of a traveling exhibition that touches the lives of many people in northeast Mississippi.

S.A.F.E., Inc.  takes part in “Jeans for Justice” in several ways:

Our Fundraiser

• We encourage people to wear jeans to work on Friday April 29th & make a donation to S.A.F.E. Inc.
• Get your workplace involved! We provide you with posters, Sexual Assault Awareness Month pins and information to host your own “Jeans for Justice” event.
• Please register online www.safeshelter.net/justice/ or call (662) 841-2273

Mobile Art Exhibits

• View the “Jeans for Justice” art exhibit at Tupelo’s Link Centre in the month of April. Jeans painted with messages about violence have been created by residents of northeast Mississippi from a wide variety of backgrounds and age groups in conjunction with our annual “Jeans for Justice” fund-raiser. The jeans reflect the individual artists’ feelings about violence in our community. Some jeans honor victims of violent crime, others state facts and statistics, and others send a message of hope.

• Come and paint with the Tupelo Women’s Club “Jeans for Justice” Paint Party. Sunday, April 10th from 2PM until 4 PM at the Link Centre in Tupelo. You can create your own pair of jeans to help send a message about violence. Jeans will become a part of a traveling exhibition that touches the lives of many people in northeast Mississippi.

• Come and paint at the “Jeans for Justice” Paint Party hosted by the Daily Corinthian Newspaper in Corinth, Mississippi 10AM-2 PM Saturday April 16^th. You can create your own pair of jeans to help send a message about violence. Jeans will become a part of a traveling exhibition that touches the lives of many people in northeast Mississippi.

Sexual Assault Awareness Films