When Constable Michael Sanguinetti spoke about safety practices at York University in late January, he probably thought that he was going to enlighten today’s youth on how to keep themselves safer and avoid dangerous situations. He probably didn’t realize he was going to shed light on the fact that many Toronto police officers are still ignorant about situations as serious as rape, or that he was about to start a major nationwide protest.
When Const. Sanguinetti arrived at the school, he began his lecture on regular safety procedures and personal safety. Shortly after the officer began speaking about rape he told the crowd of students that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized.” The statement is shocking in this day, and caused a great deal of backlash from students and residents of Toronto. But the response from the Toronto police department has caused many women to take matters into their own hands – and out onto the streets of Toronto.
The first official SlutWalk was held on Sunday, April 3, 2011. The walk consisted of people, mostly women, walking around in stiletto heels, fishnet stockings, shirts with plunging necklines, and anything else that could be considered “slutty.” These women were out to make a point – that women have a right to wear whatever they want, and that those choices do not lead to rape. The women were enraged with the police officer’s remarks that put the blame back on the victim instead of the perpetrator, but they seemed even more incensed at the little action that was taken by Toronto police after the ignorant remark was made.
The Toronto police came out publicly almost immediately after the remark was made, to say that Constable Sanguinetti’s remarks were not consistent with the training of the Toronto police and that all Toronto police officers must complete sensitivity training as well as proper rape training. Chief Bill Blair also said that Sanguinetti was properly disciplined over what he said, but there were no details given on just what that discipline involved. Constable Sanguinetti is also still part of 31 Division, although he was not on duty on Sunday during the walk.
But the lack of response to Sanguinetti’s comments isn’t the only thing that SlutWalk organizers are protesting; they also feel as though their concerns are being ignored by the Toronto police. Co-founder Heather Jarvis, told reporters at the event that she had made three different, specific requests to Toronto police that had gone unanswered. The requests included restructuring education and training for Toronto police, implementation of that training from third-party sources, and an improvement on public outreach programs including education regarding “rape myths.” That, along with the disinterest of the police to take part in the walk on Sunday, only seemed to cement the belief of many that the Toronto police aren’t as sensitive as they should be to the issue of rape.
But the Toronto police department says that’s just not the case. Constable Wendy Drummond did tell reporters that that the organizers of the walk were provided with an outline of the changes and revisions made to sexual assault police procedures. Const. Drummond also responded to the fact that there was no Toronto police officer actively participating at the event by saying, “We have reached out to them. But wanting to put us up there and not be heard, is just not something that we’re going to do.”
SlutWalk Toronto has also spurred on other SlutWalks in cities such as Vancouver, Ottawa, and Boston.
