Another Rally Against Sexual Attacks

Another rally will be held on Wednesday, October 5 to protest the string of 10 sexual assaults in the Sunset Park, South Slope and Park Slope area since March. 

The rally, sponsored by Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez, will start at 5:30 p.m. with people gathering at 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue. The group will then march to the Sunset Park Flagpole in the park at 44th Street. There will be self-defense demonstrations and speakers to raise awareness about the recent attacks and sexual violence.

The first rally of this kind was held on a historic night in September when to protest the sexual predators who have plagued the area since March.

The September rally was organized by Safe Slope, a grassroots neighborhood organization with a mission to help women walk the streets without fear. The organization has since launched their Safe Walk program, which helps women get home safe late at night (Thursday through Saturday nights, 8 p.m. to 3 a.m., call 347-709-8852 to arrange a ride).

Although Safe Slope is not participating in the rally, Liza Trinkle, a founding member of the organization, said it will “give [the community] an opportunity to come together in a positive way.”

She also said that the rally will help neighbors learn about the local organizations and resources in the Sunset Park community and stressed the importance of getting involved. 

The rally on Wednesday is timely, for police in two recent attacks in Sunset Park. However, the authorities do not know if he is connected to the 10 sexual assaults since March. 

Trinkle said it is important to stay together as a community until all the attackers are behind bars and this rally will help keep the community unified. 

“Since there are conflicting reports about the suspect and how many perpetrators there are, for now I feel safer knowing that my neighbors are looking out for one another and that there are many resources—Safe Slope being only one of them—that are trying to help,” Trinkle said.