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| Slutwalk, Krutch Park, Knoxville, October 2011 |
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| Slutwalk, Krutch Park, Knoxville, October 2011 |
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| Slutwalk, Krutch Park, Knoxville, October 2011 |
So, as I was saying, here came the Slut Walk. Now, as I understand it, the point of these guys, who have hosted several such walks in Knoxville, I believe. Is that how a woman is dressed is no excuse for rape. A sentiment with which I think we can all agree. The idea is to dress “slutilly” to make the point.
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| Slutwalk, Krutch Park, Knoxville, October 2011 |
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| Slutwalk, Krutch Park, Knoxville, October 2011 |
There were some mild, Knoxville-Bible-Belt stabs at dressing in a risque manner, but all-in-all it amounted to several dozen people making a serious point. Or points. Mixed in with the basic message were some sub-messages, such as teaching boys to respect women and that “no” means, well, “no.”
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| Occupy Knoxville, October 2011 |
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| Occupy Knoxville, October 2011 |
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| Occupy Knoxville, Krutch Park, October 2011 |
When their colorful crowd intersected with the much larger occupationists, cheers erupted as the two respective parades shared a little love. Rush Limbaugh would likely have had an aneurysm with leftest groups giving the figurative fist-bump on the street. I’m not sure if the aspiring sluts joined the aspiring occupants then or later, but eventually the two groups merged.
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| Occupy Knoxville March to Market Square, October 2011 |
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| Occupy Knoxville enters Market Square, October 2011 |
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| Occupy Knoxville March into Market Square |
A few interviews were given to the bit of media assembled and the crowd continued to grow. The crowd had thickened to the point it was difficult to maneuver through that portion of Krutch Park, so I crossed the street and climbed atop the bell on Market Square to photograph the march as it proceeded northward across Union Avenue. It crossed in fits and starts, with the policeman sometimes holding the next group back painfully long, separating the protesters from one another.
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| Occupy Knoxville keeps pouring into Market Square |
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| Occupy Knoxville, Market Square, October 2011 |
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| Police let traffic through: Trying to segment the crowd? |
From my perspective it was obvious the crowd had grown considerably and it would continue to grow, as it turned out, for a good while as more passers-by joined in on the square. Ultimately, the group marched around the perimeter of the square, encircling it with few gaps and several people deep. Chanting, holding candles and waving signs I failed to see many jeers and heard quite a few cheers. Horns honked in support.
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| Occupy Knoxville Marches in Market Square, October 2011 |
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| Occupy Knoxville Marches in Market Square, October 2011 |
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| Occupy Knoxville Marchers |
It didn’t stop. As the night wore on, I ran into remnants and smaller bands on the 100 Block, on Gay Street proper, on Wall Avenue, on Walnut and, of course, back in the square. Certainly they were an energetic bunch.
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| Humans and Canines United Against Wall Street |
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| Marchers with Occupy Knoxville, October 2011 |
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| Occupy Knoxville picks up Jake and Bill |
Tomorrow I’ll wrap up with some final thoughts (for now) on my impressions of what is happening in our (usually) sleepy little town.
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| Occupy Knoxville Marchers on Market Square, October 2011 |
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| Occupy Knoxville Marchers, October 2011 |
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| Hours later, still marching – Occupy Knoxville splinter on Gay Street |
