SSH programs Archives | Page 12 of 40 | Stop Street Harassment

Muslims Belong Here: Marching in D.C.

January 29, 2017 By HKearl

“Thousands of protesters gathered and marched in cities and at airports across the US on Sunday, in opposition to the executive order from Donald Trump which imposed a freeze on refugee admissions and a ban on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries….

Around 100 people were held at airports on Friday and Saturday. Many were released as a dramatic court victory for the American Civil Liberties Union in New York on Saturday night saw a federal judge place a temporary stay on the order and rule that all those held should be released.

But by late afternoon on Sunday, travellers remained in custody at various airports, with attorneys reporting that some border agents were refusing to comply with the judge’s order.”

Myself and two of our DC-area Stop Street Harassment board members attended the Washington, D.C. protest. We also met up with Chai, the c0-founder of Collective Action for Safe Spaces.

We rallied at the white house and then marched down 15th Street, up Pennsylvania Ave to the U.S. Capitol and then back. There was a huge pocket of people protesting along the route in front of Trump Towers. Basically waves of people marched from 1 p.m. until well after 4 p.m.; when I passed the white house en rote to my car around 4:45 pm, groups of people were still heading down 15th street, marching.

Trump has made a lot of executive orders that I’ve disagreed with during his first week in office, but this one is having an immediate, scary and unfair impact on people’s lives. Many members of congress have spoken out and even Dick Cheney, who I didn’t think could do anything but evil, has come out against this move by Trump.

No doubt Islamaphobia will be on the rise in public spaces in the USA by emboldened Trump supporters. This is not okay. Everyone should be and feel welcome in our country, no matter their religion or country of origin.

#NoMuslimBan #RefugeesWelcome #Resist

Making History at the Women’s March on Washington

January 21, 2017 By HKearl

Around 500,000 women and male allies marched in Washington, D.C. today — and 3 million marched around the world.

We know so many of you were part of that number and we thank you for showing up and taking a stand!! We had board members marching in Washington, D.C. but also in Los Angeles and Minneapolis, too.

In Washington, D.C., due to the massive crowd size, many of us who wanted to march together never found each other, but we had a small but mighty contingent. A big highlight was when our youngest marcher Susie — my cousin’s five-year-old daughter — got to meet her hero Katy Perry, who was marching by us. She got to say hi to Katy who graciously chatted with her for a minute and told her this was her first march, too. Susie handed her one of the Stop Street Harassment stickers!

Overall, it was incredible to see the range of diversity of people there, to hear how far people had come to be there, and to witness so much kindness. Everywhere we went it was so so crowded but no one was pushy, mean or aggressive. Everyone helped everyone. All of the Metro staff and police officers we encountered were kind and encouraging and we thanked them as we went by. On the metro, there was continuing rounds of cheering and chants and we marched and chanted as we slowly moved through lines to get above ground. I was also excited to see our anti-harassment Metro ads at the four different Metro stations I used!! Yes!!

Thank you so so much to everyone who came out. Now we have to keep up the momentum and hold our elected officials accountable, run for political office, stand up to bullies and hate, and be kind to one another.

Join us at the Women’s March Tomorrow!

January 20, 2017 By HKearl

We’ll be present at several women’s marches, from Los Angeles to Minneapolis to the Women’s March on Washington in D.C.!! If you want to march with us and Collective Action for Safe Spaces in DC tomorrow, here is the info.

We’ll be working to bring attention to the street harassment and victimization that the most marginalized groups face, such as women of color, trans* women, women with disabilities, etc. See you there!

Meet the New Blog Correspondents of 2017!

January 16, 2017 By HKearl

Since 2013, cohorts of people from around the world write monthly articles about street harassment and activism efforts in their communities. Read their articles.

Meet the New Blog Correspondents of the First Cohort of 2017

Libby Allnatt, Phoenix, AZ, USA

Libby is a student at Arizona State University. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, she is majoring in journalism with a focus on print. She also is minoring in psychology and women’s studies to pursue her passion for understanding human behavior and combating gender-based injustice. She has particular interest in how media messages affect gender socialization and the psychology behind gender-based violence. Libby is passionate about raising awareness of street harassment because she believes everyone has the right to walk down the street with peace of mind. Street harassment is a culmination of gender violence and objectification, and she refuses to stop talking about it. One of her main goals in life is to help young girls realize their full potential. When she’s not talking about feminism, she’s usually running, writing, doing yoga, or trying to find a cat to pet. You can follow her on Twitter @libbyallnattasu and Instagram @LibbyPaigeA.

Simona-Maria Chirciu, Bucharest, Romania

Simona-Marie is a Ph.D. Student in Political Sciences, working on a thesis on gender-based street harassment in Romania. She has a BA in Political Sciences from the Faculty of Political Sciences, NSPSPA (National School of Political Sciences and Public Administration), with a theme on Islamic Fundamentalism in Iran and Communist Ideology in China (2012) and a Master Degree in Policy, Gender and Minorities, Faculty of Political Sciences, NSPSPA, with a thesis on street harassment in Bucharest (2014). Simona’s main research interests are in gender-based street harassment, sexual violence and other forms of violence against women, gender and poverty, gender equality and equal opportunities, social justice. In the past she worked as a gender equality expert and sexual violence expert. Also, she is an activist and she organizes numerous public actions (marches, flash-mobs, protests) against sexual violence and street harassment against women. Now she is part of an working-group trying to improve by public policies the situation of young homeless people in Romania. You can find her on Facebook.

Elaine Crory, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Elaine is a part-time politics lecturer and a mother of two. Originally from rural Cavan, she studied and worked in Dublin for a decade before coming to Belfast, where she started a family and met a network of committed activists. She is director of Hollaback! Belfast, co-organises the city’s annual Reclaim the Night march, and volunteers with Belfast Feminist Network and Alliance for Choice to campaign for a broad range of women’s issues. She is passionate about community organising and activism as a way to bring intersectional feminism to life, and especially interested in street harassment as the first way in which many young people encounter sexism in their lives. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, reading and strategic napping.

Annabel Laughton, Gloucestershire, UK

Annabel is a passionate feminist who strives to constantly learn more about feminism, patriarchy, misogyny, racism and sexism. She is involved in campaigns for human rights, mental health, environmental issues and social justice. She is inspired by many incredible women activists, and by her friends. Her favourite quote is from Maya Angelou: “You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated”. Annabel has an honours degree in Classical Studies, a diploma in counselling, and works in Higher Education. She spends her free time running, swimming, hiking, and reading about ancient Greek epic.

Ken Rodrigo, Makati, Philippines

Ken is a teacher of international studies at a university in Manila. After law school, she traveled to Denmark and eventually studied in Malmö University in Sweden where she earned her master’s in Human Rights. Her experience in progressive countries influenced her views of society. She wishes to contribute to her home country by advocating social movement for meaningful social change. You can contact her at krnrdrg@gmail.com or on Facebook.

Three Ways to Help Stop Street Harassment in 2017

January 6, 2017 By HKearl

A new year is upon us and if you are looking for ways to get involved in making the world a better, safer and more equitable place, we can help! Here are three things you can do this year, immediately, to help raise awareness about street harassment — and work to end it.

1. Apply to join our first Blog Correspondents cohort of 2017. This volunteer position entails writing a monthly article (500-800 words) about street harassment and/or activism in your community. This is an important way to show this is a problem all over the world… and that there are people all over the world dedicated to ending it. The position runs from January (now!) to April 2017, apply today.

2. Plan to take action during International Anti-Street Harassment Week. From April 2 to 8, 2017, hundreds of groups and tens of thousands of people all over the world will join together to raise awareness about street harassment. This is the 7th year and in the past, groups in up to 41 countries have participated by marching, wheatpasting, sidewalk chalking, holding workshops and rallies, writing op-eds and holding tweet chats. How will you take part?

3. Spread the word about the National Street Harassment Hotline. You never know who will need this toll-free 24/7 support — spread the word over social media or in person about the hotline. You can also donate to help cover the cost of running it in 2017.

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