SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – On April 21, the South Lake Tahoe City Council and the Alpine County Board of Supervisors chose to rise with survivors. With the unanimous votes to proclaim April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), our local leaders communicated to every local survivor that their voices matter, and they are believed.

At Vista Rise Collective, we want to thank our elected officials for providing the space for us to discuss the prevalence of sexual assault, how it affects both individuals and communities, and also the services available to local survivors through Vista Rise. A proclamation is a valuable recognition, but it’s only part of our awareness work. To build a safer community for all, awareness must transform into action.

This transformation is displayed by the story of Denim Day.

In 1992, an 18-year-old girl in Italy was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor. He was initially convicted, but the Italian Supreme Court later overturned the decision. Their reasoning was because the victim wore tight jeans, the judges argued she must have helped her attacker remove them, thereby implying consent.

The next day, women in the Italian Parliament arrived at work wearing jeans in a show of solidarity. This “denim protest” sparked a global movement. It serves as a reminder that the social script that blames survivors for what they wear, how they act, or why they stayed silent is still a barrier to justice today.

As we shared earlier this month, it took Dolores Huerta 60 years to disclose her story of abuse because she feared the social cost of speaking out. On the last Wednesday of every April, we wear denim to ensure the next generation doesn’t have to wait that long. We wear it to say, “There is no excuse, and there is never an invitation for assault.”

On April 29, we are asking South Lake Tahoe to turn this message into a movement.

We are partnering with the Tahoe Knight Monsters for a night of community and purpose. We invite you to purchase tickets through our link below, wear your denim, and rise with survivors. Just the simple act of wearing denim on that day shows that our town refuses to let survivors walk their paths to healing alone. By purchasing your tickets through the Vista Rise link, a portion of the proceeds can directly fund our 24/7 crisis advocacy and prevention programs in local schools.

If you aren’t going to the game, you can come by our Fill-A-Bag sale in our parking lot at 2941 Lake Tahoe Blvd from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., to help us turn clothing donations into funding for our life-saving services. 

Now that it’s officially Sexual Assault Awareness Month, let’s show our neighbors what a supportive community looks like.

Rising with you,

Chelcee Thomas
Executive Director
Vista Rise Collective