The 4th Annual No One Asks For It! Walk took place downtown North Bay Thursday evening.
Amelia Rising, the Sexual Assault Centre of Nipissing, holds the walk to bring awareness to stop violent rape culture in our society.
Protestors met at the downtown park at Fraser and Main St. They walked down Main Street, shouting out for consent and handing out condoms. The group circled back to Amelia Rising for an open house at 101 Worthington St. E.
North Bay Deputy Police Chief Shawn Devine took part in the walk as Chair of the board of Amelia Rising. Other North Bay officers assisted with traffic control. Devine explains that the walk started as a result of an inappropriate comment from a Toronto police officer. “It was basically victim blaming. He said that if a woman hadn’t had been dressed in a certain way, she wouldn’t get raped. The officer had to make an apology and it led to this event.”
Devine says the North Bay Police Service receives about three 911 calls from domestic violence per day. He also reminds that the message behind No One Asks For It! is about the victimization or revictimization of a survivor of sexual assault. “No one deserves it.”
Debbie Shipley demonstrates in No One Asks For It! North Bay.
On facebook Thursday, the executive director of Amelia Rising, Brenda Quenneville posted “Thanks for nothing, Jay Aspin. In case you didn't know, we actually need MORE support for violence against women efforts.”
An NDP MP, Niki Ashton, brought forward Bill M444 - A National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women to which Jay Aspin, the PC MP for Nipissing-Timiskaming, voted against.
Reached for comment, MP Jay Aspin responded saying, “Our government is committed to preventing all forms of violence against women and girls. Since 2007, we have made significant investment for projects to end violence against women and girls - - the highest level of funding ever. Our government also listened closely to the families who shared their stories with the Special Committee. They wanted action, and that is what we are proud to deliver in our Action Plan to Address Family Violence and Violent Crimes Against Aboriginal Women and Girls.”
Quenneville says that’s not good enough. “We need to ask hard questions. The dialog needs to change. We have to ask, what steps did you take to ensure you had consent?”
Quenneville calls for real change. “We know that people are profiting from this climate of sexual violence. An example is the Bud Light ad campaign that said their beer would remove the word no from any evening, #upforwhatever. That is a blatant rape culture endorsement. Sexualized violence is never ok.”
Amelia Rising offers a 24 hr crisis line for anyone affected by sexual assault. Call: 705-476-3355
