For the past several months, since my relocation to New York, I’ve been part of the organizing team for SlutWalk NYC (coming up on October 1st, more posts to come on my involvement, organizing a grassroots movement, the future of feminism, etc).  One of the events we decided to organize prior to the actual SlutWalk is a protest for the morning of the jury selection for the sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn.  When we discovered Monday that the DA was most likely going to drop the charges against DSK, we thought our presence at DSK’s meeting with the DA was more important than ever.

So bright and early Tuesday morning, 8:00am to be exact (oh yes, I am THAT passionate about battling rape culture), about three dozen or so SlutWalkers, Radical Feminists and other activists rallied in front of the court house to speak our mind and show our support for the survivor in this case, Nafi Diallo.  There were endless cameras and microphones in our faces while many of our brave SlutWalkers gave passionate and unapologetic speeches demanding justice for sexual assault survivors.  It was a beautiful display of the rage we all feel about the rape culture we live in, not to mention how unapologetic the people who are supposed to protect us are (I’m talking to you Cyrus Vance & NYPD!) about failing to do their jobs.

Now regardless of how you feel or what you believe to be true regarding Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Nafi Diallo, there has been a serious miscarriage of justice in NOT allowing a jury of DSK’s peers decide based on the evidence the validity of this case.  When the Grand Jury indicts someone for a crime, the case should, without question, go to trial.  It is up to the jury to decide whether Diallo is being honest, whether DSK is guilty, not the district attorney.

I could get into the evidence of the case and the endless number of reasons a survivor of sexual violence may lie/omit details/remember details later regarding a highly publicized sexual assault they experienced but that’s another blog post entirely.  Not to mention the reasons why a woman of color in Diallo’s position in our society (rape culture!)  might feel nervous or uncomfortable about sharing ALL of the details of her life because she wants to practice her right to report a crime committed against her.

What does Diallo’s background have to do with her experience of sexual assault?  Nothing.  Except that working as a hotel housekeeper put Diallo in a lower position of power than a wealthy guest like Dominique Strauss-Kahn, creating a situation where she was a more vulnerable prospect for someone in his position to take advantage of.
This fight is not over.  We need to speak out against this injustice!  One of my fellow SlutWalk organizers, Suzy Exposito, said something extremely influential this morning,

“It is time we start recognizing the war against rape survivors. For all those who ever wondered why only 6% of rapists ever see jail time, here is your explanation. For all those who ever wondered where the feminist movement went, we’re back and we’re here to stay. For all those wondering why there is still no equality here today, it’s because there is no equality where there is no justice.”

She could not be more on the mark.  The women I meet every day, the young women who are exploring and creating lives while refusing to be anyone but themselves, these women ARE the new feminist movement.  Some of them don’t even realize it yet.  But based on the passion, intelligence and dedication I see amongst my fellow SlutWalk organizers, the women from other feminist and pro-women, pro-sex(positivity) organizations and movements, non-profits, blogospheres, and other online communities, I am confident that we can make some brand new, world changing waves happen!

Photo by: Jessica Rinaldi/REUTERS

Tags: Dominique Strauss-Kahn, DSK, injustice, Nafi Diallo, protesters, rape culture, sexual assault, SlutWalk NYC