The Victoria SlutWalk is part of an Global movement which began in Toronto, Ontario.  The first SlutWalk began out of a response to police constable Michael Sanguinetti, who while giving a lecture on Crime Prevention at York University’s Osgoode Hall stated: “I know I’m not supposed to say this, but women should avoid dressing like Sluts in order not to be Victimized.”

This comment had several damaging implications:

1) Ideas that certain people are more deserving of rights and protections than others
2) Ideas that what a woman wears has any bearing on her likelihood to be assaulted

This comment was not the first, but it was enough to inspire organizers Heather Jarvis and Sonya Barnett to do something about it.  A few months later, on April 3rd, 2011 over 3,000 people gathered in the streets of Queen’s Park in Toronto to protest ideas that condone and normalize rape, Victim Blaming, Oppression, Slut-Shaming and Victim Blaming.  Since the first SlutWalk, it has become one of the fastest growing feminist movements in over 20 years.

We are bring the SlutWalk to Victoria to send a few messages

-It’s time to stop shaming people for governing their bodies and their sexual lives in the way they see fit
-It’s time to start talking about the larger issues that contribute to sexual violence
-It’s time to start tackling issues of misogyny, sexism, racism, and the policing of our bodies
-It’s time to start talking about exactly what consent means
-It’s time to stop blaming survivors of sexual assault for the crimes committed against them.