New York’s top cop dons denim — against sexual violence
As first published on The Columbia Journalist (columbiajournalist.org) on April 25, 2014 [http://columbiajournalist.org/new-yorks-top-cop-dons-denim-against-sexual-violence/]
Kirsten DeFur holds up jeans that she and her colleagues at the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence decorated as a visual representation of Denim Day. “Sexual assault is not okay,” she said. Photograph by Asha Mahadevan
Police commissioners don’t typically join in at protest rallies. But there was William J. Bratton, front and center on the steps of City Hall Wednesday, wearing faded blue jeans and speaking out against sexual violence. The occasion was Denim Day, an annual gathering to raise awareness about sexual assault. Members of some 50 nonprofit and government organizations came together for this year’s rally, and Bratton impressed many by staying for the entire event, which lasted just over an hour.
“This is the fifth time we are having Denim Day [in New York City] but the first time our commissioner is here,” said Julissa Ferreras, a New York City councilmember from District 21.
The Denim Day movement began after an Italian court overturned a rape conviction in 1998. The court reasoned that because the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the attacker remove them, thus implying consent. In response, people around the world began wearing jeans to protest the idea that a woman asks for assault by wearing provocative clothing.
Though an Italian court overturned the denim rape exception in 2008, the need to raise awareness about issues related to sexual assault remains relevant. “The reason sexual violence is perpetuated is because there is no accountability,” said Quentin Walcott, co-executive director of Connect, an organization working to prevent interpersonal violence and promote gender justice, and one of the participants at the event. “The same thing happens in New York City. It is a global issue. It is about changing how boys think about girls rather than changing an article of clothing.”
Michele Davis, director of community and social justice initiatives at YWCA Brooklyn, agreed. “Victims are blamed everywhere – their dress was too short, too tight, they had too much makeup on,” said Davis, who was part of the planning committee of Wednesday’s event. “They have to go through so much to prove that they are the victims. They are the ones constantly under scrutiny instead of the perpetrators.”
That kind of scrutiny can deter women and men from coming forward after an assault. Bratton, who wore a jacket with a logo of the New York Police Department Special Victims Squad, said that it is an “unfortunate reality that a significant number of rapes are not reported.”
He added that women and men who report sexual assaults are often asked to repeatedly describe what happened — during the investigation and also in the courtroom. To help “reduce the victimization they receive after they have been victims,” Bratton said the police department is training officers who respond to sexual assault calls.
“This is really important,” said Walcott of Connect “One of the reasons they [victims] don’t report the crime is that they fear revictimization. If he can do anything to change how the system works, it would be great.”
Andy King, a City Councilmember from District 12 in the Bronx, described the ideal relationship between men and women. “It’s all about respect, all about love,” he said. “If anyone can’t figure it out, we have got the NYPD to help them,” he added to much laughter.
King also urged victims to come forward. “These steps [of City Hall] are a beacon,” he said. “Come out of the shadows, let us help you.”
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer also spoke at the event. “No man or woman should be the victim of a life-altering crime,” she said. “All of us should do everything in our power to see to that.”
That’s why organizers saw Bratton’s readiness to participate in the event as so important. “We are very happy that he stood with us,” said Davis of the YWCA. “We’ll approach him next year, too.”
“This is the fifth time we are having Denim Day [in New York City] but the first time our commissioner is here,” said Julissa Ferreras, a New York City councilmember from District 21.
The Denim Day movement began after an Italian court overturned a rape conviction in 1998. The court reasoned that because the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped the attacker remove them, thus implying consent. In response, people around the world began wearing jeans to protest the idea that a woman asks for assault by wearing provocative clothing.
Though an Italian court overturned the denim rape exception in 2008, the need to raise awareness about issues related to sexual assault remains relevant. “The reason sexual violence is perpetuated is because there is no accountability,” said Quentin Walcott, co-executive director of Connect, an organization working to prevent interpersonal violence and promote gender justice, and one of the participants at the event. “The same thing happens in New York City. It is a global issue. It is about changing how boys think about girls rather than changing an article of clothing.”
Michele Davis, director of community and social justice initiatives at YWCA Brooklyn, agreed. “Victims are blamed everywhere – their dress was too short, too tight, they had too much makeup on,” said Davis, who was part of the planning committee of Wednesday’s event. “They have to go through so much to prove that they are the victims. They are the ones constantly under scrutiny instead of the perpetrators.”
That kind of scrutiny can deter women and men from coming forward after an assault. Bratton, who wore a jacket with a logo of the New York Police Department Special Victims Squad, said that it is an “unfortunate reality that a significant number of rapes are not reported.”
He added that women and men who report sexual assaults are often asked to repeatedly describe what happened — during the investigation and also in the courtroom. To help “reduce the victimization they receive after they have been victims,” Bratton said the police department is training officers who respond to sexual assault calls.
“This is really important,” said Walcott of Connect “One of the reasons they [victims] don’t report the crime is that they fear revictimization. If he can do anything to change how the system works, it would be great.”
Andy King, a City Councilmember from District 12 in the Bronx, described the ideal relationship between men and women. “It’s all about respect, all about love,” he said. “If anyone can’t figure it out, we have got the NYPD to help them,” he added to much laughter.
King also urged victims to come forward. “These steps [of City Hall] are a beacon,” he said. “Come out of the shadows, let us help you.”
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer also spoke at the event. “No man or woman should be the victim of a life-altering crime,” she said. “All of us should do everything in our power to see to that.”
That’s why organizers saw Bratton’s readiness to participate in the event as so important. “We are very happy that he stood with us,” said Davis of the YWCA. “We’ll approach him next year, too.”