Video: Rape culture and Rhodes

DISRUPT, a documentary made by the Rhodes University student press Activate, unravels the events that took place during the recent protest on campus that made international headlines.

DISRUPT, a documentary made by the Rhodes University student press Activate, unravels the events that took place during the recent protest on campus that made international headlines.

Published May 5, 2016

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Cape Town - DISRUPT, a documentary made by the Rhodes University student press Activate, unravels the events that took place during the recent protest on campus that made international headlines.

The protest was sparked by the release on social media of #RUReferenceList, an anonymous list naming people believed to be sexual perpetrators.

Students gathered on campus and demanded that the university take immediate action against the 11 male students accused of rape.

 At some stage hundreds of half-naked Rhodes University students took to the streets in protest. 

The protest took a violent turn when the police were brought onto the campus and used rubber bullets and pepper spray.

The #RUInterdict became another focus after Rhodes University’s management served members of the student body and staff with an interdict criminalising further protest action and the disruption of the academic programme.

Many students have returned to class, but DISRUPT producer Mitchell Parker states that students are still dealing with the psychological aftermath of the protests.

The documentary serves to continue the conversation about sexual abuse, urging people to think about how they contribute to rape culture whether it be perpetrating or disrupting it.

Disclaimer: DISRUPT includes actual footage of the naked protest and violence. Views expressed also contain strong language.

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