‘Slut Walks’ protest at blame of rape victims

CHANTING “We love sluts!” and holding signs like “Jesus loves sluts,” approximately 2,000 protesters marched Saturday around the Boston Common as the city officially became the latest to join an international series of protests known as “Slut Walks”.

The protest movement, sparked by a Toronto police officer’s remark that women could avoid being raped by not dressing like “sluts”, came to Boston after advocates saw similar events — largely organised through Facebook and Twitter — pop up in Canada, England and other parts of the US.

“We wanted to do something to show our support,” said Siobhán Connors, 20, of Lynn, Massachusetts, a Boston organiser. “We originally planned for a small event and expected about 30 people.”

But about 2,000 people — some dressed in lingerie with the words “slut” written across their stomachs — were in attendance.

In January, Constable Michael Sanguinetti told a group of university students that women should avoid dressing like “sluts” to avoid being raped. He later apologised. Constable Sanguinetti was disciplined but remained on duty, said Toronto police spokesman Mark Pugash.

However, advocates in Toronto held a “Slut Walk” to protest the officer’s remarks and to highlight what they saw as problems in blaming sexual assault victims. Since then, Slut Walks, have been held in Dallas, Asheville, North Carolina, and Ottawa, Ontario. Organisers say the events also were held to bring attention to “slut-shaming,” or shaming women for being sexual, and the treatment of sexual assault victims.