PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A week after the Obama administration launches a new effort to combat sexual assault on college campuses, Philadelphia organizers are gearing up for the annual March Against Rape Culture.

Participants say attention to the issue is long overdue and organizer Christie Eastburn agrees:

“We’ve been aware of this problem for a long time and it’s just now getting media attention.”

Originally called “The Slut Walk,” it began four years ago after police at a Toronto university told coeds to “stop dressing like sluts” to avoid rape.

“Those words really ignited fire in a lot of people,” says Eastburn.

This year’s March to End Rape Culture (formerly known as SlutWalk Philadelphia) on September 27 will be the most collaborative march in the event’s history. The march this year has the most co-sponsors, speakers, and volunteers than any other year, according to lead organizer Christie Eastburn.

“The Philadelphia SlutWalk chapter rebranded as the ‘March to End Rape Culture’ last year in an effort to be more inclusive and to diversify its participants, sponsorship, and volunteers,” said Eastburn in an email.

“In addition to being a less polarizing name for the event, the rebranding of the SlutWalk into The March to End Rape Culture also helps in broadening the scope of issues that are addressed in relation to rape culture beyond just focusing on victim blaming and slut shaming.”

Queer 2 The T sits with organizers of "The March To End Rape Culture" (formerly SlutWalk) to chat about stigmas and hope for humanity!

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – About 1,000 people turned out for the annual “March to End Rape Culture” in Center City Saturday at Thomas Paine Plaza.

The event started in 2011 as the “slut walk,” which was a march to reclaim that word and spread awareness about rape culture.

Co-organizer Sarah Muhl says the name of the event was changed — the goal being to bring awareness about why so many feel oppressed or unsafe:

“We here in Philly found that name wasn’t very inclusive of all races and genders, so we changed it last year to ‘March to End Rape Culture’ and in doing that, we have gained a lot of following.”

Yesterday afternoon, residents, workers and tourists alike stood witness to a barrage of at least 600 people, some in just bras and stocking, passionately marching through the street of Center City in the March to End Rape Culture.

Dianne Graeser, a 28-year-old mother-to-be, said she drove two and a half hours with her sister and daughter to participate in the march.

“We make this our yearly trip to Philadelphia and you know, it’s just really something I believe in,” she said, donning a sparkly, purple bra. “Some of the bystanders watching us hoothaw and catcall at us and it’s totally inappropriate.”