SlutWalk LA: Saturday, 6/4 @ West Hollywood Park

Photo of protesters at SlutWalk Ottowa by some of rebecca's photos via Flickr

When Toronto police officer Michael Sanguinetti told a group of students at Osgoode Hall Law School of York University in January that the women among them should avoid "dressing like sluts" lest they be raped, little did he know that he was about to spark a movement.

Outraged by the incident -- and others like it -- local activists Heather Jarvis and Sonya Barnett launched SlutWalk, described on its website as a mission to spread the word that "those who experience sexual assault are not the ones at fault, without exception."

The first SlutWalk was held in Toronto on April 3. Nearly 3,000 people showed up to participate, according to the Huffington Post. Holding signs saying "I'm a Slut, Don't Assault Me" and "We've Had Enough," some also dressed in skimpy or revealing outfits to emphasize the point that a person's clothing doesn't make it OK to assault them.

The use of "slut" in the event's name has drawn criticism, but organizers say that part of the goal of the event is to reclaim the word.

Following the inaugural event, SlutWalks have taken place all over the country and the world, including in Boston, Chicago and parts of Australia. On June 4, SlutWalks will be held in Amsterdam, Sweden, Denmark, Brazil and Canberra in addition to Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles event will begin at 12:00 noon at West Hollywood Park. Participants will then march up Robertson to Santa Monica, east to La Cienega, and then double back to West Hollywood Park.

To participate, just show up.

SlutWalk LA
West Hollywood Park
647 N San Vicente Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Saturday, June 4
12:00 noon

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By Jessica Pauline Ogilvie in Arts & Events on June 2, 2011 4:00 PM

Comments [rss]

Brenna Fletcher

WOW you're an idiot. The point of Slutwalk is to take power away from people who use the word "slut" to hurt women EVERY day. And it's not "being a whore" if a woman wears revealing clothing. It's called being PROUD of our bodies. Why is that you can remove your shirt in public, but I can't? And DON'T say it's because of my breasts. The female body is a beautiful thing that has been demonized by disgusting people like you for years. And men who claim that women brought sexual assault/harassment upon themselves for dressing a certain way are wrong. You can control yourself even if a woman is walking down the street naked, you just choose not to. Rape is about power not sex. Next time, think before you decide to make an ass out of yourself.

Joshiedoozie

Laughable, ridiculous, pathetic, unnecessary and nauseating 'movement.'
Calling it slutwalk negates what they're supposedly preaching; they don't want to be attacked, yet they call themselves, and dress themselves, as sluts and whores. Contradiction? Yeah. I don't think if you call yourself a whore or slut, you're going to get much respect, and dressing like one, even less. .. . . the last time I checked being a slut was not a virtue, and dressing as one, and calling yourself one, only makes you target for the pervs, weirdos, and psychos out there. Is that what they're trying to change? To go naked in public, enticing all the salivating beasts who are full of testosterone and the sight of even a buttcrack is enough to make them go wild?

And how do they want to reclaim the word slut? Why? They want the word to be something positive? There's nothing positive in being a slut and a whore in any shape or form, HIV positive maybe, but nothing more. The word is negative, period.

parsleyface

you're an idiot.

Ms. Pye

you CLEARLY don't get it. and you CLEARLY have issues with women.
aye, pobrasito...

UncleElmer

"the last time I checked being a slut was not a virtue, and dressing as
one, and calling yourself one, only makes you target for the pervs,
weirdos, and psychos out there."

My dear Joshie, please google( slutwalk images ) and ast yourself : Would even pervs, weirdos, and psychos be interested in any of the Ladies of Slutwalk?