SlutWalk Protest: Israeli Women Hit Streets Of Jerusalem Saying 'We're Proud Sluts'

By Ankita Mehta | May 05 2012 8:33 AM

A SlutWalk rally was organized by some 70 protesters at Jerusalem's Paris Square Friday morning to protest against sexual violence and to respond against the claims that women's attire or her behavior provoked rape and sexual assault.

Reuters

A woman takes part in the "Marcha de las Putas" (SlutWalk), held to protest against discrimination and violence against women in Lima, November 12, 2011. The march is part of the SlutWalk protest movement which started after a policeman advised women students in Canada to "avoid dressing like sluts". The sign reads "where does it say yes?"

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The protesters, mostly young men and women, walked from Paris Square to Horse Park in Jerusalem wearing risqué outfits, chanting slogans and bearing signs reading No more harassment, We're not weak, we're not inferior, we won't be taken advantage of, sluts demand social justice, Enough - blame the rapist, and I'm a proud slut.

Earlier this week, an ultra-orthodox member of the Jerusalem municipality protested against the march, and the small number of police securing the event kept men with religious appearance at a safe distance from it, the AFP reported.

A police spokeswoman told AFP that despite controversy, the Friday's rally happened without any disturbance.

A 22-year-old Jerusalem resident, Or Levy, organized the Friday's SlutWalk, or, Mitzad Sharmutot protests. She told Haaretz News that while she had been walking in the city in reveling clothes, an ultra-Orthodox woman had made remarks like, you probably have sex with your boss.

Levi said, That made me realize that we have to do something about this issue. I live in Jerusalem and am harassed on a daily basis, and some would say that is because I dress provocatively. I don't think there needs to be a connection.

She said that although marches had taken place in different cities in Israel, Jerusalem was a special place in which to hold a march like this.

The SlutWalk protest began last year in Toronto when police constables commented on women's attire saying, women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.