Los Angeles participates in 'Denim Day'

Residents of Los Angeles broke out their blue jeans for a good cause Wednesday.

The non-profit organization Peace Over Violence began the Denim Day in 1999. The nationally recognized campaign raises awareness about rape and sexual violence.

City employees in West Hollywood wore blue jeans to work in solidarity with the campaign.

A support group for male survivors of sexual abuse, 1in6.org, testified at Wednesday’s Los Angeles City Council meeting about prevention of sexual violence. The West Hollywood City Council heard testimonies from the director of counseling services for Peace Over Violence.

Schools across Southern California hosted assemblies to help students understand the significance of Denim Day.

Denim Day began when the “tight jeans” of a victim led the overturning of a rape conviction in an Italian court. The judges involved in the case believed it would have been impossible for the suspect to remove the victim’s tight jeans without assistance.

Organizers encouraged L.A. residents to wear denim to help generate support for the day’s events.