April is sexual assault awareness month. To show our support for victims of sexual assault, staff and attorneys at Swenson Lervick wore denim on April 25.
April 25 was observed as “Denim Day.” As noted at denimdayinfo.org:
The campaign was originally triggered by a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, the women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim. Peace Over Violence developed the Denim Day campaign in response to this case and the activism surrounding it. Since then, wearing jeans on Denim Day has become a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.
In addition to wearing denim, Swenson Lervick collected personal hygiene items and raised money for donation to Someplace Safe, an Alexandria, Minnesota nonprofit agency that offers a myriad of services to crime victims and survivors in a nine-county region in West Central Minnesota. “We are very grateful to have your gifts of personal hygiene items to share with the victims we serve. Knowing someone cares enough to give brings a ray of sunshine and hope. We appreciate your gift of money from all the Fridays in honor of Denim Day. All of you at Swenson Lervick Syverson Trosvig Jacobson Schultz Cass obviously are invested in helping and bringing change for those in need,” said Somplace Save Advocate Susan Keehn.
As City Attorneys for Alexandria, Swenson Lervick is committed to the fair and thorough investigation of all criminal cases that are under its jurisdiction. Where prosecution is warranted, our prosecutors hold themselves to the highest ethical standards, and seek to promote justice for victims, defendants, and third parties affected by the case.
Shelly Thompson (middle) and Beth Kuhn (right) from Swenson Lervick deliver supplies to Someplace Safe.