This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Join us to demonstrate against rape culture and promote messages about good consent in TORONTO, AUG 15 NOON, QUEENS PARK 111 Wellesley St W, NORTH of Wellesley St in the public park area
Please read more about Roosh V and sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/deny-rooshv-accommodation-in-canada-for-the-purposes-of-disseminating-hate
WARNING: IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO HIDE THE GUEST LIST ON A PUBLIC EVENT. GUEST LISTS ON FACEBOOK EVENTS HAVE BEEN RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY ROOSH V AND HIS FOLLOWING FOR THE INTENTION OF HARASSING INDIVIDUALS WHO SUPPORT THIS DEMONSTRATION. PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN FOR YOUR SAFETY DO NOT JOIN THIS EVENT AND INSTEAD TAKE NOTE OF THE DATE AND TIME AND INFORM YOUR NETWORKS THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH OR OTHER MORE SECURE MEANS. Thank you. You can also just click Save on the event page and your name will not be included in those that are attending
Our demonstration is in reaction to the presence of Roosh V in our communities of Toronto and Mississauga. To counter these messages of sexual and gender-based violence we demonstrate and educate toward the aim of peaceful, loving, CONSENSUAL relationships between all people and orientations, male, female, non-binary, trans folks, two spirit, gay, lesbian, bi, non-conforming, and more. We also highlight that this particular practice of violence stems from reductive narratives that narrowly position the roles of ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ with little room for individuals to identify between or outside those definitions. These same people who promote these reductive gender narratives also promote harmful hierarchies that seek to victimize and make PoC, Indigenous, and other marginalized members of our community vulnerable based on the wrongful, hateful, criminal assumption of white supremacy. The attitudes and practices of Roosh V and his ilk harm our communities and endanger the lives and wellbeing of us all.
With this understood, our demonstration is INTERSECTIONAL, INCLUSIVE, and peaceful for the sake of creating safe space for all members of our communities. We will speak to issues of rape culture as well as educate on practicing good consent.
If you know anyone who can help make the event more accessible and diverse from an organizing standpoint, PLEASE LET ONE OF THE ADMINS KNOW! This is really, really important and all leads would be greatly appreciated!
Please contact us with any concerns about accessibility, representation, visibility, safety etc.
This is a statement from organizers to address the outcomes of our petition and actions to prohibit Roosh V from accessing so-called “Canada” and hold an event which has the intention to promote what can only be defined as violence towards women:
‘Roosh V’ AKA Roosh Vorek AKA Daryush Valizadeh, creator and administrator of the Pick Up Artist PUA hate website The Return of Kings is going on a world tour this summer. He has already visited Montreal for his August 8 date, which was successfully shut down twice by efforts of protestors who informed hotels slated to host his hate speech of the disturbing content of his so-called dating techniques, which advocate RAPE, a violence Roosh fully endorses, approves of, and finds entertainment. We are all accountable for the safety, health and well-being of those around us- to allow an event like this to happen, which has the sole purpose of undermining the autonomy and self determination of women in the most vile ways, is contributing to the acceptability of the gendered violence that women experience on a daily basis.
The dramatic harassment that women received speaking out against Roosh’s intended speech in Montreal is intended to destabilize our public organizing. What Roosh V and his followers are seeking to accomplish in this effort is the same as in their “dating practices”: to undermine the ability of women to be in control of their lives and bodies. That any criticism of our treatment in society will be greeted with a forceful response, intended to dilute our individual value and our collective experience. THE BASIS OF THIS HARASSMENT IS SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE. If allowed to continue unchecked, this backlash against the concerns of women normalizes these larger more visceral, physical threats to our existence.
This is exactly why we feel our organizing is so important. We will use our visibility in public demonstration to promote public awareness and continued dialogue on these issues. It IS NOT the sole responsibility of women to prevent rape by protecting her body in public spaces, and the notion that she should is based in the assumption that women’s bodies are 1 objects and 2 available to public. Neither is it the sole responsibility of women to prevent the promotion of this rhetoric.
We must also recognize that although Roosh V and his ilk target people who they identify as women, a conversation about rape culture and good consent must include identities more than just woman and man. Trans and nonbinary people also experience violence and if there is anybody who would like to speak this issue please contact us — we welcome your voice and can include you in our planning.
We also welcome anyone that would speak to violence against sex workers or advice on how to discuss this topic with sensitivity and respect.
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