Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for August 2014

#StandWithMonica and #FreeEisha

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Via ACLU

Transgender women of color face some of the highest rates of street harassment and violence of any demographic. Here are two of these women who need our help:

Via ACLU:

“When Monica Jones left her house on the evening of May 17, 2013, she expected to hang out at a local bar and restaurant and meet up with some friends. But for transgender women of color, just walking down the street can be a criminal act.

Especially in Phoenix, Arizona, where literally “any bodily gesture” can be sufficient evidence that you are intending to engage in prostitution.

When an undercover officer saw Monica Jones, a black transgender woman, walking down the street just a few blocks from her house, in an area that the officer described as being “known for prostitution,” that was enough to convince him that she intended to engage in prostitution. It was on that basis that he approached and stopped her.

In April of this year, Monica was convicted of violating this overbroad and vague law. Today she appeals that conviction, and the ACLU, along with other advocacy and civil rights organizations, filed a brief in support of her appeal.

We #StandWithMonica because transgender women of color should be able to walk down the street in their neighborhoods without being arrested, or worse, for simply being themselves.”

Via GLAAD:

“A trans woman of color, Eisha Love, is currently facing attempted murder charges after she was attacked by two men outside a gas station on Chicago’s West Side. According to a Change.org petition calling for Love’s release from prison with over 2,000 signatures at this time, she was with a friend when two men began harassing them with slurs and epithets, and Love was struck in the face.

As Love and her friend rushed to escape the attack in their car, one of their attackers standing near the vehicle was permanently injured. Later, Love turned herself in for the injury and was charged with 1st degree attempted murder. If convicted, she faces 10 years in prison….You can read more about Eisha’s story and support her by signing and sharing this Change.org petition, and by using hashtag #FreeEisha on social media”

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“You may not speak to women so disrespectfully and expect no consequence”

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While walking in NYC, I stopped to take a picture of wood work on a door. As I turned to leave, the uniformed doorman of the building told me I was blocking the door and had to leave. I actually thought he was kidding because I was leaving and there was no one else in the doorway or on the sidewalk at all. So I laughed, pointed this out, and took two steps away. That’s when he called me a bitch. I’ve never been called this name before — I am a middle-aged, elementary school teacher and this word is not in my expressive vocabulary. I turned back and he repeated himself. I moved closer to see the name on his tag and he told me his name was Patrick McKay, asked if I needed him to spell that for me and told me that he only had to be nice to the residents of the building.

He laughed at me and said, “Who are you going to complain to?” The answer, Mr. McKay, is anyone who will listen, including the management of your building the NYPD, the mayor’s office and any online source I can find. You may not speak to women so disrespectfully and expect no consequence.

– CBS

Location: The Greenwich Club Residents, NYC

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

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“He was there, he saw yet he did nothing”

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Living in London as a young, single 20-year-old could not be more exhilarating or dangerous. With over eight and a half million people living in the city and countless more visiting there is a wide spread of cultures and social norms. Although cat calling and street harassment are daily occurrences sometimes the harassment can escalate.

Walking home from a late night at work I noticed a luxurious Mercedes drive past. A couple of minutes later I noticed the same car drive past again but this time at a slow pace 10 meters behind me. Eventually the car pulled up beside me and tried to engage in conversation, I had my headphones in and pretended I couldn’t hear them until they leant on the car horn. I told the men that I had no interest in talking to them and continued to walk on at which point two of the doors of the car opened and the men came running towards me. I sprinted for the door to my building and entered before they reached it. They stood there pounding on the glass and pulling on the door.

For the next few days I contemplated what had happened and wondered whether I had encountered these men before. If I protested against cat calling and the regular street harassment I faced, would this have happened? Was this my fault for not standing up for myself more often? However, the answer to all of these questions is NO. These incidences happen due to the lack of societal pressure, the acceptance of rape culture and the lack of support women feel in the streets.

During the incident there was a man on a bike who witnessed what happened. When I spoke to the police, I asked whether the man had reported the incident – he hadn’t.

And to be honest, that’s what scares me the most. He was there, he saw yet he did nothing.

– Mariann

Location: London, UK

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

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“What if they try to grab me?”

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It started this month and is on going. As I walk to work these two guys drive by and honk at me. Twice they have called out their window too. It makes me feel very unsafe. I am Trans*. I was assigned Female at birth but I don’t consider myself female. I even shaved all the hair off my head this past weekend and they are still honking as they drive by as I walk to work. It makes me feel so uncomfortable and unsafe. It makes me fear, what if they would drive by when I am walking home late at night. Would they just honk? What if they try to grab me? What if it escalates? I should be allowed to feel safe walking to and from work.

– Kris

Location: New Holland, Pennsylvania (walking to work)

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

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“I said HOHOHO AND I DON’T MEAN SANTA CLAUS”

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“Today I was followed into the downtown branch of the library by a 20-something excuse for a human being slinging hateful, sexist language at me. He started a few blocks away and got louder and louder until I entered the library and a male library employee physically blocked him by starting a conversation with me. He said: “”Ho. Ho. Ho. Hohoho and I don’t mean Santa Claus. I said HOHOHO AND I DON’T MEAN SANTA CLAUS. Hey bitch, you a fine bitch. Ho. Ho. Ho!  How much a hit? 500? You stuck up bitch. You an ugly ass bitch anyway. You can’t get none, see what I do? Make you feel insecure about yourself. Ho.”” On and on.

I ignored him, since he obviously was looking for attention. In retrospect I wish I had had pepper spray on me. I feel so discouraged that the people perpetuating the problem are the ones least likely to listen to me if I do engage. What could I have said that would have made him understand how angry, intimidated and disappointed his actions made me feel? He probably would have enjoyed knowing he had that effect on me. It feels hopeless.

– Anonymous

Location: Seattle/wa/USA central library 4th and Madison

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

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