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SlutWalk returns to Guelph after two-year hiatus

Event raises awareness and takes a stand against rape culture, victim blaming, slut shaming
slutwalk horizon

After a two-year hiatus, the SlutWalk Guelph event makes its return to the Royal City next month.

On Apr. 2 at 12:30 p.m. roughly 200 people are expected to gather in St. George's Square in Downtown Guelph where speakers will address the crowd. The location has shifted from Market Square.

SlutWalk Guelph is one of many similar events held across the country to take a stand against rape culture, victim blaming, slut shaming and supporting survivors.

University of Guelph undergrads Emma Pasianotto, Joycna Kang and Brittany Cohen took up the mantle this year and with the help of around 20 volunteers revived the event that drew roughly 150 people its first two years in Guelph.

They contacted the organizers of the previous two events and got their blessing.

"We're all very passionate about the issues that the slutwalk is tackling," Kang said. "We want to raise awareness that treating women and people this way is not acceptable."

Slutwalks initially stemmed from a comment made in 2011 by a Toronto police officer who said women should "avoid dressing like sluts" to help avoid being sexually assaulted.

"But it's such a huge issue still," Pasianotto said.

Things haven't changed that much in six years, say the organizers of this year's event, pointing to U.S. President Donald Trump's "grab them by the pussy" comment and an Albertan judge who recently stepped down after asking a victim of a sexual assault why she couldn't just "keep your knees together."

But it's not just high profile cases like those, Kang said. Young women are exposed to shameful acts all the time, whether it's being groped by a stranger at a bar, "accidentally" being touched on a subway or being told to leave class because their outfit is deemed "to be a distraction."

The April 2 SlutWalk Guelph is all-inclusive.

"To invoke positive change in society we have to involve everybody," Pasianotto said.

The event coincides with the Rogers Hometown Hockey event that is taking place in Market Square that weekend.

Pasianotto said it was an unfortunate miscommunication that led to the conflict but that they have no desire to disrupt the Hometown Hockey event and will march to a different location.

For more information go to the SlutWalk Guelph Facebook page at www.facebook.com/slutwalkguelph/.

 


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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