SlutWalk Rochester

Mark your calendars: The 3rd Annual SlutWalk Rochester is right around the corner! The people of Rochester will once again take to the streets in effort to increase dialogue and raise awareness about the prevalent attitudes in our society that blame the victim or survivor in many sexual assault cases. Nobody asks to be sexually assaulted and we as women are not going to take it anymore!

Rochester, NY— Statistics shows that 1 in 6 women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. These numbers rise to 1 in 4 within the college population. In accordance, on Friday, April 25th three local students from the College at Brockport are organizing the 3rd Annual SlutWalk Rochester in order to raise awareness around the women’s issue of victim-blaming as it pertains to sexual violence. First originating in Toronto, Canada in response to a police officer’s statement that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order to not be victimized”, the movement has since become a worldwide event to combat these ideas that the victim somehow asked for it. Historically, the term “Slut” has been used to demean women and girls; to shame them into silence. According to organizers, though, “Being assaulted is not about victim’s behavior, what you wear or how much you drink; it’s not even about sex. We are living in a society that teaches ‘Don’t get raped’ instead of ‘Don’t rape’. On this day, we will reclaim the word ‘Slut’ and the power that it holds and encourage discourse that teaches about consent rather than instills fear.”

The event will begin at 5:00 pm at the Liberty Pole, located at 230 East Main St, where several guest speakers will provide personal testimonies, and participants will make their voices heard. SlutWalk Rochester welcomes every one of all ages, genders, races, classes and backgrounds. Come as you are- there is no dress code. The idea is simply to express that notions which serve to blame the victim, and not the perpetrator, are misguided and will no longer be tolerated!

For more information, please visit our Facebook page <SlutWalk Rochester> or contact the members of the SlutWalk Rochester organizing committee at slutwalkrochester@gmail.com

Amber McGowan               Shavonne Vasquez                Ashley DiBiase