Hundreds take to Jerusalem streets in annual SlutWalk

Several hundred demonstrators marched through downtown Jerusalem on Friday for the city’s sixth annual SlutWalk protesting rape culture.

The protesters, mainly young men and women in their teens and twenties, paraded in various states of undress to make the point that women should be able to wear whatever they want without being sexually harassed.

They carried hand-made signs and shouted slogans such as, “No means no,” “You say she agreed — did you ask her if she wants it?” and “Don’t tell us how to dress, tell men not to rape!!!”

The protesters gathered at Davidka Square at 11 a.m. and at noon began walking down Jaffa Street where they were greeted by bemused onlookers.

Protesters chant slogans as they march in the SlutWalk in central Jerusalem, on June 2, 2017.(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

The only reported incident during the march was when two women onlookers expressed their outrage at the way the participants were dressed and shouted abuse at them.

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Anna Kleiman, one of the organizers of the event, told Ynet that “In the past four months there have been four horrific stories of rape in the country and all the suspects were freed.” She added that 10 women have been killed in Israel since the beginning of 2017.

Protesters chant slogans as they march in the SlutWalk in central Jerusalem, on June 2, 2017.(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

“We are murdered and raped and nothing happens,” Kleiman said. “This is the sixth time we’ve been screaming in Jerusalem and we’ll continue next year — and every day of our lives.”

In marked contrast to liberal Tel Aviv where a similar parade was held last month, Jerusalem is a conservative city, with large numbers of religious communities ranging from Orthodox Jews to Muslims.

Protesters chant slogans as they march in the SlutWalk in central Jerusalem, on June 2, 2017.(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

A SlutWalk is a protest against those who explain or excuse rape based on a woman’s attire or appearance. The first such protest took place in Toronto, Canada in April 2011, in response to a police officer’s suggesting that “women should avoid dressing like sluts” in order to avoid being raped. Since then, SlutWalks have taken place in cities around the world and have broadened their protest scope to include all types of sexual assault and harassment, as well as the prevalence of victim blaming.

Protesters chant slogans as they march in the SlutWalk in central Jerusalem, on June 2, 2017.(Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)