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Archives for October 2012

Sexual assaulter on the prowl in Springfield, VA

October 3, 2012 By HKearl

A local news station in the Washington, DC, area just reported that as many as five women may have been groped by the same sexual assaulter recently in Springfield, VA, a suburb of Washington, DC:

“The woman who may be the fifth victim said a man grabbed her from behind , grabbing her breasts right in front of her teenage daughter. She says he wasn’t out to rob her, because he did not steal her purse.

Police say the fourth attack happened on Tuesday at about 7:15 p.m. around the intersection of Exmore St. and Hibbling Ave.

Each time, the man grabs victims from behind and fondles their breasts.”

This is from a Washington Examiner article a few days ago:

“A man wearing a plain, red baseball cap is suspected in three different fondling cases in September in Springfield.

In the most recent, on Thursday, a 17-year-old girl was walking on the sidewalk around 9 a.m. on the 5900 block of Erving Street when she was grabbed behind and fondled.

On Sept. 18, a 16-year-old girl was walking on a path in the 6700 block of Metropolitan Center Drive around 2:45 p.m. when she was grabbed.

And a 26-year-old woman was walking near Old Keene Mill Road and Springfield Boulevard around 8:30 a.m. when she heard a whistle. When she reached the 7200 block of Monticello Boulevard, a man grabbed her from behind and fondled her.

All three victims described the suspect as either Asian or Hispanic and wearing a red baseball cap. One suspect said he had a thin, black goatee; another said he had a black, close-cut beard. One suspect said he was about 5 feet 8 inches tall, another said 5 feet 6 inches.

Anyone with information should call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-8477.”

Despicable. Also, I wish the news would correctly identify what’s happening as sexual assault instead of only referring to it as “fondling.”

I hope they catch him soon.

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Filed Under: News stories

Street Harassment in 1945

October 3, 2012 By HKearl

What do you think the photo to the right, taken in 1945 in New York’s Times Square, depicts?

An only-in-the-movies romantic gesture? A passionate kiss between two lovers who’ve been kept apart by war?

What about street harassment?

Unfortunately, despite its iconic status and the way it has come to symbolize  World War II ending and and the baby boom beginning, it turns out that’s exactly what it depicts: unwanted sexual conduct between strangers in a public space.

Crates and Ribbons reports:

“For a long time, the identity of the pair remained a mystery. It certainly looks passionate and romantic enough, with many speculating that they were a couple – a sailor and a nurse, celebrating and sharing their joy. This year, however, historians have finally confirmed that the woman is Greta Zimmer Friedman, a dental nurse at the time, and George Mendonsa, a sailor.

Have a look at some articles about it. Do you get the feeling that something is not quite right?

Huffington Post | Daily Mail | CBS News

A few facts have come to light. Far from being a kiss between a loving couple, we learn that George and Greta were perfect strangers. We learn that George was drunk, and that Greta had no idea of his presence, until she was in his arms, with his lips on hers.

The articles even give us Greta’s own words:

“It wasn’t my choice to be kissed. The guy just came over and grabbed!”

“I did not see him approaching, and before I knew it, I was in this vice grip.”

“You don’t forget this guy grabbing you.”

“That man was very strong. I wasn’t kissing him. He was kissing me.”

It seems pretty clear, then, that what George had committed was sexual assault. Yet, in an amazing feat of willful blindness, none of the articles comment on this, even as they reproduce Greta’s words for us. Without a single acknowledgement of the problematic nature of the photo that her comments reveal, they continue to talk about the picture in a whimsical, reverent manner, “still mesmerized by his timeless kiss.” George’s actions are romanticized and glorified; it is almost as if Greta had never spoken.”

I’m not surprised her story is being dismissed. The truth would make this famous story depict something unpleasant rather than the “feel-good” story we think we know when we look at it.

From the nursery rhyme “Georgie Porgie Pudding in Pie/Kissed the Girls and Made them Cry,” to the boys who chased us in elementary school trying to kiss us against our will, to the Looney Tunes cartoon character Pepé Le Pew who spends every episode trying to kiss a female cat against her will (interestingly, Pepé was introduces in 1945), unwanted kissing is seen as cute or funny, not as sexual harassment and certainly not as sexual assault.

But it is. As someone who has been kissed against her will, I can attest: it’s uncomfortable, it’s gross, and it’s unnerving.

The first time my partner kissed me on our first date in college, he asked. That’s how it should be. Every intimate act should have consent, including kissing.

So, I will speak the uncomfortable truth and call out this iconic photo. Strangers have no right and no place to kiss strangers, even if they’re overjoyed at being back from war.

He should have asked her for permission and respected her autonomy, her body, and her feelings.

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Filed Under: street harassment

“I still felt scared”

October 3, 2012 By Contributor

It was about 20:45 this evening (9/30/12) and I decided to drive over to the convenient store to pick up some beverages. I go to the store, paid for my purchases and walked out to my minivan.

I got out to my minivan and as I’m turning the corner, a sudden bad feeling came over me. I noticed a truck with some guys sitting in it, windows down (which I found odd, it’s about 45-50 degrees this evening) parked next to my van and the guys were LEERING at me, and making comments about how my car has a Go Army sticker on it. One of the guys said “Oh here she comes.” That there was a little freaky. I pulled my can of mace out of my pocket and carried it in front of me so they could see I was armed (fair warning). I got into the car and they were still talking and leering at me. I turned the key in the ignition and put the van in reverse. To add a little sting I put the high beams on. I drove out of there. I took a different route home. Thankfully this incident didn’t go further than the parking lot.

When I got home I told my mom, who got very worried. I said maybe I should remove my Go Army sticker. My mom said no you worked to get that job you keep that sticker on. I told her while I handled it well and did what the right thing I still felt scared. Tomorrow I’m planning to visit the convenient store to talk with the manager to inform them- maybe they might take a look at the security tapes. But for now, I am going to kick back, enjoy some iced tea and draw.

– Dal

Location: Wilder, VT

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Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem.

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Filed Under: Stories, street harassment

“These streets are mine too.”

October 2, 2012 By Contributor

I used to run regularly; now I prefer to bike. As a runner, you surely have been harassed while running. There is something about runners and bikers that bothers the physically inert. On the afternoon of Sunday, Sept.30, while I biked on the Little River Turnpike just east of Guinea Road, a scraggly kid riding in a Jeep (my favorite vehicle) hollered, “Get off the road, faggot.”

Had I caught up, I would have asked him who he was telling to get off the road. I was biking according to Virginia law. These streets are mine too.

– John Bartelloni

Location: Little River Turnpike between Prosperty Avenue and Guinea Road, Virginia

Donate to help fund a national study on street harassment.

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem.

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Filed Under: Stories, street harassment

“You’re triggering her PTSD”

October 1, 2012 By Contributor

Dear dudes working for Governors Island in the Manhattan terminal,

When a lone woman asks you questions related to the ferry schedule and surrounding area it is not an invitation to invite her to hang out and socialize with you. And when she says she’s feeling anti-social, it’s not a reason to lash out at her and tell her she won’t get your help then. When she comes back for the next ferry, that’s not your cue to tease her, announce to the room full of employees that she looks tired, tell the other employees that she cussed you out and argue with her when she says she did no such thing and just wants to be left alone because you’re triggering her PTSD. And finally, when you see her waiting in line clearly upset, that’s not an invitation for you to pull on her clothes and then squeeze her shoulders (thanks for the flashbacks, dude!).

Sincerely,
The woman you harassed today while she was trying to take the ferry for her very last ever visit to her favorite park.

10/2/12 UPDATE from the author of the post: “Elizabeth at the Fund for Governors Island has gotten in touch and gotten the details from me. She let me know they are looking to address this as quickly as possible and they’re taking this seriously. I did ask if these same folks might be working for the Staten Island Ferry (right next door and also a free service) and she wasn’t sure, but she did know they were a security firm, not city employees. So as of right now I feel like this is being dealt with appropriately. I will keep you posted on any progress!”

10/4/12 UPDATE from the author of the post: “**Another update** I got a follow-up call from Elizabeth at the Trust for Governors Island and she let me know that the guys involved in harassing me would no longer be sub-contracting with the ferry service. She also apologized for the incident. So yay, I don’t have to worry about seeing those guys if I ride the ferry again, and my female friends who ride don’t either! I’m so glad I spoke up!”

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Filed Under: Stories, street harassment

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