Denim Day 2022: Reflections from a Domestic Violence Attorney

Blog by Hanna Chea, Communications Intern

Denim Day occurs annually on the last Wednesday of April and is aimed at standing in solidarity with those affected by sexual violence. This Denim Day, we spoke to Lucya Kim, a staff attorney for SAFE (Survivor and Family Empowerment) at Advancing Justice-LA.

Lucya worked on a case involving a client who had been sexually assaulted by a previous customer at her workplace. Because it was not a dating relationship, the SAFE team had to help the client file a Civil Harassment Restraining Order (“CHRO”) instead of a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (“DVRO”). The abusive party continued to pose various threats and the client expressed her fear of leaving her home.

“He came to her workplace to post doctored pictures of our client, harassed, and stalked her. We immediately instructed her to file a police report and pursued an ex parte filing to request a CHRO with the court.”

The case was heard and the SAFE team was able to secure the CHRO against the client’s abuser. When asked about this specific case, Lucya said she was reminded of common misconceptions that surround sexual assault.

“There’s a common misconception that women asked to be sexually assaulted because of the way that they dress or act. I could tell that our client felt a lot of shame as she recalled her story to the best of her ability, verbally reciting each fact was very difficult for her. I felt that it was important to take on her case to send a strong message that no one asks or deserves to be sexually assaulted, that each survivor’s voice matters.”

Advancing Justice-LA staff came together to wear denim in solidarity with victims of sexual violence.

Although Denim Day occurs once a year, it is always important to take this time to reflect on how sexual assault is perceived and stand in solidarity with those affected by it.

“Sexual assault or abuse is often about power and control, and for many of our cases the survivors have some sort of relationship with the perpetrator. It is very important not to ignore certain signs/situations that make you uncomfortable, and that might place you at risk, but to document it and seek help right away.”

For SAFE, one of the most crucial steps is making sure clients feel understood and empowered every step of the way.

“Our unit is oftentimes the first people that survivors open up to share their story. We want to ensure that our clients feel empowered throughout each step of their legal process against their perpetrators and to help them navigate the court system during one of the most traumatic and stressful times of their lives. Our goal is to make sure that survivors are not afraid or feel overwhelmed by the legal system, especially because of their language or cultural barriers, allowing them to speak up and out to take their power back.”

SAFE (Survivor and Family Empowerment Project) assists survivors of domestic violence with free legal services, especially for low-income and limited-English speaking individuals. If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, contact Advancing Justice-LA through our free legal helplines or at advanicngjustice-la.org.