Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Building Solidarity in a Fragmented Country

By

Guest Post for International Anti-Street Harassment Week

By Sofia DiPasquale

Hollaback! is a global network of grassroots activists working to end all forms of harassment. We believe that everyone has the right to exist in public space without fear, and that bystander intervention and story-sharing are key to creating a harassment-free world. We’re hosting regular bystander intervention trainings to give people the tools and knowledge to act up and fight back against harassment when they see it happen. You can share stories of harassment or bystander intervention on our website.

Since the 2016 presidential election in the U.S., we’ve seen a spike in the amount of stories we’ve been receiving – particularly racist, anti-Muslim, and anti-immigrant harassment. Harassment disproportionately affects marginalized communities, especially people who face intersecting oppression. We recognize that not everyone feels safe intervening in every harassment situation, especially when you belong to the community that is being targeted. Our bystander intervention training outlines five options of ways to intervene, ranging from directly confronting the harasser to documenting the situation, so you always have a choice when you’re deciding the best way to respond.

Overwhelmingly, people sharing stories of harassment say that they wish someone had stepped in during the harassment or checked in with them after to let them know that someone has their back. We’re trying to get as many people trained up on bystander intervention as possible so we can begin to create communities where people affirm and protect each other in public space, and no one has to feel uncomfortable or unsafe. You can find out more bystander intervention resources here.

Sofia DiPasquale is a communications intern at Hollaback! If you’re in New York City, join their Anti-Street Harassment Week rally from 2-4 p.m. at Tompkins Square Park.

Share

Next Week, Take the #Hollaback Challenge

By

SelfCareCross-posted with permission from a Hollaback email:

“Harassment is ubiquitous. It can be the commuter getting into your space on the subway, the comment under the stranger’s breath as they walk past you on the street, and the too-long stare that makes you feel like someone’s watching you on your walk home.

Often, harassment leaves us questioning ourselves, asking “did that really happen?” or even wondering what we did wrong. You can feel uncomfortable, bugged, and “off,” but you push those feelings away to be able to function.

But what does it mean when harassment becomes normalized – and what happens to you? “

This International Anti-Street Harassment Week (April 10th-16th), join us in reclaiming the mental and physical space pushed aside by harassment with the #hollaback challenge: a week-long daily challenge of reflection, healing, and action. Join the #hollaback challenge today to re-center yourself and take control of your own narrative.

When you sign up, you’ll be entered into a daily draw for some serious HOLLA-Goodies, including tote bags, buttons, iron on #catsagainstcatcalls patches, and more. It’s a win-win-win. Stories and maps will be shared through our social media. And, of course, you can always choose to remain anonymous.”

Share

Street Harassment Curriculum

By

SHcurriculumHere’s a new resource from Hollaback.

Via their Facebook page:

“Today we released our new anti-street harassment curriculum that we have been working hard on! HOLLA 101 features 19 lesson plans, videos, role-play exercises and more. The curriculum also features our vlog series, With Love and Revolution. To view the curriculum visit the link!”

Share

HeartMob

By

Via Hollaback!:

BIG NEWS: HeartMob launches today and is ready to help you reclaim the internet!i HeartMob is the first online platform to tackle online harassment by providing real-time support to individuals experiencing online harassment and gives bystanders concrete actions they can take to step in and save the day. With HeartMob, love and support is just one click away!

Watch this short video to see it in action!

HeartmobHollaback

Here’s how it works: Users who report harassment will have the option of keeping their report private and cataloguing it in case it escalates, or they can make the report public. If they choose to make it public, they will be able to choose from a menu of options on how they want bystanders to support them, take action, or intervene. Bystanders looking to provide support will receive public requests, along with chosen actions of support. You can “have someone’s back” and know that you’re helping them out in a time of need while directly contributing to safer spaces online!

The internet is the world’s largest public space, and just like in the streets, we ALL have the right to safety and respect. HeartMob is here to drown out the hate with lots of love and support by giving voice to people who experience online harassment, and tools to people like you who want to end it.

Check out HeartMob here, and get ready to reclaim your space on the internet!

Share

Watch Activists from Four Countries Talk about Street Harassment

By

Last month, Bluestockings hosted the New York City event for the release of my new book Stop Global Street Harassment: Growing Activism Around the World (Praeger 2015).

I was joined by seven co-presenters who shared their personal street harassment experiences and activism stories. Bisi Alimi is from Nigeria and lives in London; Gaya Branderhorstof Straatintimidatie is from the Netherlands and lives in New York; Alicia Wallace of Hollaback! Bahamas is from the Bahamas and just moved to New York; Ileana Jiménez is a high school teacher in New York City who talks about street harassment with her students; she brought two of her students who shared their stories, Shana and StellaRose; and Brittany Brathwaite is a community organizer for Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) in New York City.

Documentarians Lola Godeau and Sophia Philip videotaped the whole event and kindly let me share it publicly with you all via our YouTube channel. It includes the audience Q&A.

Share