Men Are Well-Heeled While Marching For Women
CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's a move Saturday that caught a lot of stares: men strutting around Chicago in stilettos.
They had a serious purpose, CBS 2��s Mike Puccinelli reports.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness month across the country. Outside Wrigley Field and in countless other cities, men were getting pumped up – literally -- in order to raise awareness of a disturbing problem.
"I got a nice silver heel going," Ben Murray said as he described his 3-inch pumps.
Participants in the march were all wearing women's high-heeled shoes, showing they are man enough to take part in the third annual Walk A Mile in Her Shoes Campaign. Their aim: shine a light on a hideous problem in our society, sexual violence against women.
"It gives us an opportunity to both emphasize literally and figuratively as to what a lot of women in our lives go through on a daily basis when it comes to thinking about sexual violence and how they can protect themselves from it," Christian Murphy of Oak Park said.
Unfortunately, 18-year-old Kiara Windom couldn't protect herself. This week, prosecutors said she's one of three teens murdered by Sonny Pierce. He's also accused of raping a 15-year-old neighbor.
Participants say people need to stop blaming the victims.
"Wearing sexy clothes and wearing short skirts or being flirty has nothing to do with victimization. It's not their fault," said JaeJin Pak of the Community Counseling Centers of Chicago.
According to the Chicago Police Department, more than 70 percent of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows. Fifty-five percent of sexual assaults take place at the victim's home or near a friend or relative's home.
