James Lewis | Email news tips to jlewis@cknw.com
6/30/2012
The rain isn't keeping a crowd of several dozen people from taking part in Vancouver’s second annual SlutWalk.
The festivities started with speeches, followed by a march through downtown streets.
"Without my consent, I should never ever be touched. It doesn't matter what I portray or what you see. Consent is everything,” says one woman.
Another participant says, "on the surface, it seems that we've made great strides, but really there are deep underlying attitudes about expectations, about what women are supposed to be, and how we're supposed to act in society."
Signs featured slogans such as "My ass is not asking for abuse," "I'm not asking for it until I ask you for it,” and "End victim blame! Enough is enough!"
This woman brought her two daughters: "I want world where they can walk around free from fear. The fact that they're attractive young women doesn't mean that they're at someone else's disposal to do with as they wish."
The first SlutWalk was sparked last year by an Ontario police officer who told university students they could avoid being assaulted if they did not dress like "sluts."
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