Today is the national SlutWalk, taking place downtown in Washington, DC!
SlutWalk to Raise Awareness About Blaming Victims of Sexual Assaults: MyFoxDC.com
For those who are unfamiliar with the SlutWalks, they started in Toronto in April in response to a police officer who said women wouldn’t be victimized if they didn’t dress like sluts. People all over the world who are tired of victim-blaming have taken to the streets in a very grass-roots way to organize and participate in SlutWalks. Some have dubbed the movement the future of feminism, though there are certainly many people who take issue with the walks.
Stop Street Harassment became involved in SlutWalks back in March when the Toronto organizers asked me to post info about the walk on the site. I did and Stop Street Harassment became one of their ally organizations. In April, I found out there would be a SlutWalk DC and immediately became involved. I’m one of the 20+ speakers who will be giving brief remarks today at 1 p.m. after the walk (which starts at noon in Lafayette Park, behind the white house). Stop Street Harassment will also have a booth where people can pick up a variety of handouts and even purchase a copy of the Stop Street Harassment book or buy a button.
This is anticipated to be one of the largest SlutWalks yet, and more than 6,000 people RSVPed on Facebook. I’m energized to be part of this effort to demand an end to victim-blaming and slut-shaming. I’m participating to honor all of the sexual assault survivors I know and love and to raise awareness about the more than 80% of women around the world who face street harassment and are too often blamed for it, too.
I’ll post photos and a video + transcript of my speech afterward.
For those who are considering attending, here are the details, I hope to see you there:
Schedule for August 13th
11am – Rally in Lafayette Square!
12pm – Begin Marching down 15th St, NW
1pm – Speakers at the National Sylvan Theatre
- Welcome – Dr. Ruth Neustifter
- Kim Cohen
- Join the Conversation – Andrea Bredbeck
- Stop Street Harassment – Holly Kearl
- Sadie Healy
- A Long Walk Home, Inc. – Dr. Salamishah Tillet
- (con)sensual – Carmen Rios
- Defend Yourself – Lauren Taylor
- Elina Reyes
- Deaf Abused Women’s Network – Sasha Ponappa
- Radio Show “One Mic Stand” – Aiyi’nah Ford
- Stevie Boi
- GetEqual DC – Janelle Mungo
- DC National Organization for Women – Elisabeth Crum
- Erin Sherrange
- Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive – Meredith Zoltick
- ISO: DC – Emily Brooks
- Robbie Woodsum
- Maryland District 16 – Delegate Ariana Kelly
- Shawn Wright
- New York Times Best Seller “If I Am Missing or Dead” – Author Janine Latus
- Join the Conversation – Andrea Bredbeck
- LTB Comedy – Luce Tomlin-Brenner
- Wrap Up with Sanity Gurlz and SlutWalk D.C. Organizers – Javon, Fallon, Samantha, and Shawn
After the speakers finish there will be booths from our allies for everyone to visit with, get information, and get involved!
