About 200 College of New Jersey students took part in a "SlutWalk" Tuesday to protest sexual assault and victim blaming
EWING -- About 200 College of New Jersey students took part in a "SlutWalk" Tuesday to protest sexual assault and victim blaming.
Some students held signs, while others wore provocative or revealing outfits to debunk the stigma that an outfit is an excuse to take advantage of someone, according to a report in the student newspaper, The Signal.
Similar marches have been held in cities around the world since 2011. They originated in Toronto, Canada, following a police officer's remark that women could avoid being raped by not dressing like "sluts."
Tonight at @WILL_TCNJ's #SlutWalk I was Catwoman! #CatwomanAgainstCatCalls pic.twitter.com/LEjzJBG97l
-- JenFem (@jennie_frances) September 16, 2015
Tuesday's march was organized by the college's Women in Learning and Leadership. The first march at TCNJ was held in 2013.
SlutWalk was amazing!! Jess & Ian repping some incredible signs pic.twitter.com/ftd1USzApY
-- VOX at TCNJ (@VOX_TCNJ) September 16, 2015
The event's key speaker, political analyst Zerlina Maxwell, encouraged students to help reframe the conversation surrounding sexual assault by asking different questions, The Signal reported.
"We should be asking why the rapist didn't ask for consent," she said. "We should ask why he didn't stop when she said 'no.' We should never ask her what she was wearing. We should never ask her why she drank so much."
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
