Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for September 2009

Serial groper along "the View"

By

Via WorldWidePhotoWalk
Echo Park, via WorldWidePhotoWalk

In separate incidents, police say an unidentified man grabbed three young girls from behind and groped them as they walked on streets around Belmont and Bellevue streets (“the View”), overlooking Echo Park in Los Angeles, CA. In two of the incidents a lone girl was walking to school along a pedestrian walkway. In a third incident, he groped a 12-year-old girl walking with her mother. Chances are he’s groped other girls who haven’t reported him.

From ABC News in Los Angeles, CA:

“The suspect is described as a Hispanic man with a dark complexion, between 18 and 30-years-old, about 5’4″ tall, around 150 pounds.  He has short black hair, a mustache, and acne.  Anyone with any information is asked to call Rampart Division detectives at (213) 484-3624.”

Share

Multi-culturalism vs Universal Respect for Women

By

I had recently moved into an immigrant neighborhood in NYC. I was excited about moving to this neighborhood because I love the diversity of immigrant cultures. I have always wanted to live in a multi-cultural society that respects the differences certain people’s backgrounds. However, after a few months I have drawn a different conclusion.

Unfortunately, I was harassed by Hispanic men on a daily basis. I suffered hissing, sucking noises, and even physical touching every day often more than once. I was not harassed by the Chinese, Polish, or African immigrants who also lived in this neighborhood.

I despise racism and think it would be wrong to say that all Hispanic men harass women. I know it is only a small percentage of them who harass women. I also met many wonderful Hispanic men.

However, I have learned that sexual harassment is more socially acceptable in Latin America. I have also learned that Latin American women from some countries are taught to be much more careful about walking alone, and dressing modestly to counter balance harassment.

I think it is incredibly important that Hispanic men are taught that this part of their cultural heritage is not acceptable in the United States. If we deny that certain cultures have a higher incidence of sexual harassment because of their machismo cultural norms than we will put political correctness above the rights of women. I think we need a movement to educate new citizens about respect for women.

– anonymous

Location: New York City

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

Share

Captured on video without permission

By

I walked out on Columbia Road in Adams Morgan in DC Saturday night at about 9:30 p.m. I was on my cell phone text messaging a friend when a woman in a wheel chair violently wheeled herself up to about I’d say four feet in front of me grunting (nothing) but grunting violently. She stopped, then she abruptly did it again up to about two feet to the side of me. It startled me. I quickly stopped to move around her so she would not touch me, and then within seconds one of two guys on the other side of the sidewalk said to me, ” Oh, we got a phone camera too…we got a video camera, can we tape you, watch you…” I kept walking, and the other guy (now all of them behind me) said “keep walking, keep walking” as he taped me walk down the street on his cell phone. This low life (and his friend) have me on video and there’s nothing I can do about it.

– J.S.

Location: Columbia Road, Washington, DC

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

Share