Denim Day Walk

By Sgt. Erik A. ThurmanApril 18, 2014

Denim March
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Denim March Col. Ward
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Denim March Col. Ward
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Colonel John L. Ward, Commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, leads Troopers of the Regiment during the annual Denim Day Walk at Fort Irwin, Calif., to raise awareness of sexual harassment and sexual assault, April 10. (Photo by Sgt. David Be... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Denim March Horseback
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Troopers of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Horse Detachment pass a local Fort Irwin school, during the annual Denim Day Walk at Fort Irwin, Calif., to raise awareness of sexual harassment and sexual assault, April 10. (Photo by Sgt. Erik A. Thurm... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Denim March Horseback
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Troopers of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Horse Detachment march during the annual Denim Day Walk at Fort Irwin, Calif., to raise awareness of sexual harassment and sexual assault, April 10. (Photo by Sgt. Erik A. Thurman, Public Affairs, 11th A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Denim March
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Sexual Assault Blasted
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Troopers of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Family Members and members of the Fort Irwin community participated in a post-wide Denim Day Walk to raise awareness of sexual harassment and sexual assault here, April 10.

"It was a very motivating experience," said Spc. Sara Fleming, a Nodal Network Systems Operator, assigned to the 11th ACR. "It's good to see that the Army is taking such a strong stance on this. It supports the notion that the victim is not the one to blame for sexual assault. I have only been in (Army) for four and a half years and in that time I have noticed an increase in awareness and the way they actually approach the cases."

The denim worn by participants referenced a 1998 Italian court case where a convicted rapist was released from prison due to the victim's tight jeans. The courts concluded that because the victim's jeans were so tight, the victim must have assisted the attacker with their removal -- thus giving consent. The court's decision sparked outrage among women in the Italian Parliament who began wearing denim in protest.

The trend grew world-wide into Denim Day. Organizations across the globe, now wear denim in solidarity to symbolize the work that still needs to be done to raise awareness of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Participants at Fort Irwin took to the streets to walk through neighborhoods and by local schools where children lined the curbs to watch the walk. The 11th ACR included an Army tank as well as the 11th ACR Horse Detachment to symbolize the Regiment's support for raising awareness.

Following the Denim Day Walk, leaders engaged Troopers, assuring them that sexual harassment and sexual assault will never be tolerated in the US Army. Leaders stressed that they want victims to come forward so that they can be given the care they need and so that victimizers can be brought to justice.

I'm glad to see the Army's implementation of victim advocates who help victims of sexual assault receive treatment instead of the Army focusing solely on the judicial proceedings of perpetrators, said Fleming.

"People are our number one priority, it doesn't surprise me that the Army is going to such great lengths to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment," said Command Sgt. Maj. Carl A. Ashmead, 11th ACR.