To take a stand against sexual assault and raise awareness on the violence that sex workers are subjected to, the activist nonprofit group The Sound, organized a Slut Walk that took place in Miami Beach, on December 5th, 2020.

The series of protests known as SlutWalks began in Canada in 2011, after a police officer told students at Toronto’s York University that if women want to avoid rape, they “should avoid dressing like sluts.” This sparked the global SlutWalk movement, calling for an end to rape culture, victim-blaming, and slut-shaming for sexual assault victims.

At around 5:30 pm, organizers from The Sound gathered at South Pointe Park to start the march. The protesters kept growing by the dozens as they walked down Ocean Drive, passing through hotels, bars, and restaurants demanding the decriminalization of sex work and safer working conditions for sex workers. Sex Workers do not have legal protection,  making them risk their own safety to avoid arrest and more vulnerable to abuse. The decriminalization of sex work would make sex workers less vulnerable to the violence they are commonly subjected to by clients and the police.

The Slut Walk attendees wore minimal and revealing clothing, most wore red or held an umbrella to show their support for the sex workers’ rights movement. The walk was not exclusively attended by sex workers, but by activist and supporters that understand that dressing up in a certain way is not an excuse for harassment or sexual assault.

Most of the speeches were given at the end of the march in front of the Versace Mansion. Many people on the strip seemed to be supportive of the walk, with some joining in support of the cause, dancing with protesters, listening to their speeches, or taking selfies and videos of the moment. Halfway through, the cops joined the march with their four wheels, maintaining some distance but staying vigilant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These photos were taken by Jonathan De Camps. Get in touch with DeCamps through his website and social media. Consider donating to him so he can continue to do his work.