Picture Denim Day in Santa Cruz

The Jean art exhibit out front of Santa Cruz City Hall today was worth capturing on film. We've seen the Mayor of Santa Cruz raise a hemp flag in honor of a hemp-fueled vehicle rolling into town after driving coast to coast. This Denim Day exhibit on the City Hall front lawn must be a first too.

Denim Day is about challenging myth-based injustice. The Italian High Court decision (1999) to rule against the woman because she was wearing jeans (and therefore would have to have helped) was a hugely unpopular verdict that sparked a worldwide outcry and has now become an international symbol of myth-based injustice for sexual assault victims.

Branciforte Middle School was among the participants producing jean art with strong and proud statements. The DA came to speak in the formal opening of the City Hall exhbit as did the local police. Walnut Women's Center did a presentation and were one of the groups tabling. They had purple bracelets which read "Peace Begins at Home"

One day when you're walking by City Hall, cross that lawn and check out the small sculpture. It was dedicated in 1984 and it is called "Changing of the Guard". SC City Council has made national news on more than one occasion for their radical stance (in institutional terms), for championing issues and initiatives considered controversial in the mainstream. Between Matriot Day and Denim Day, it would be more fitting to talk about the Herstory of Santa Cruz.