SlutWalk Lubbock to Take Place Saturday

A group of people advocating against sexual assault and how some may view it will hold a walk in the Depot District.

The international movement known as “SlutWalk” began after a 2011 comment by a member of Toronto’s law enforcement saying that “Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.”

According to the group, SlutWalks aim to draw attention to societal norms about women and sexuality that create an environment where sexual violence is more likely to occur.

The 3^rd Annual SlutWalk Lubbock will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 2^nd.

The group will meet at the Buddy Holly Center parking lot at 19^th Street and Crickets Avenue. They will then head west toward 19^th and Avenue Q, then north up Avenue Q to 14^th Street.

An after party will be held at Belly’s Café, and will feature a silent auction and t-shirt sales.

Proceeds from the event will go to benefit the Hope and Healing Fund, which provides sexual assault survivors confidential, short-term counseling sessions with a licensed professional counselor at a reduced rate or no cost at all.

The group also addresses the provocative nature of the event’s title.

“There are several reasons for keeping the word "slut" in the title of this event.  It is something that we have discussed at length, knowing full well the word makes people uncomfortable.  In fact, it makes us uncomfortable, and that, inherently, is the problem.  It is not a word that we have created for ourselves.  It is a word that we have been labeled with by a culture that blames the victims of sexual assault (who are certainly NOT limited to women but are typically thought of as women). So in continuity with the original SlutWalk Toronto, and in protest of victim-blaming, we continue to include “slut” in the title of our event.”