Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Street Harassment and the Law: Global Edition

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Via Hollaback!

“A new report released today offers the first ever global legal resource on street harassment. Led by NGO Hollaback! and the Thomson Reuters Foundation and coordinated by global law firm DLA Piper, the “Know Your Rights” guide compiles the latest legal definitions and information on all forms of street harassment across 22 countries and in 12 languages. A monumental undertaking, the guide involved the efforts of 11 legal teams working in collaboration around the world.

You can download a PDF of the guide here: Street Harassment – Know Your Rights‘”

If you’re in the USA, you can find state-by-state information in our Know Your Rights: Street Harassment and the Law released last December. It’s also available as a PDF.

 

 

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Meet Our New Social Media Managers

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Stop Street Harassment has two new volunteers co-managing our social media accounts and helping with special events, like the #OrangeDay sidewalk chalking in NYC on October 25. I’m excited to have their help!

Khiara Ortiz is a recent graduate of New York University with a BAS in Journalism and Psychology. She currently works in New York City as an assistant in the contracts department for Hachette Book Group, a publishing company, and is passionate about writing, language, and literature. She is also very interested in the feminist movement, specifically in ending street harassment. Living in New York City and experiencing this type of sexual oppression first-hand has made her become aware of the degree to which it is still a problem in societies across the world and just as much of a crisis as heightened forms of sexual violence. Khiara is a Blog Correspondent and will be representing SSH in New York City. If you also live in NYC and would like to collaborate with her, please feel free to contact her at KhiaraOrtiz@gmail.com.

David Corwin is a full-time graduate student at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, in his second year in the Interdisciplinary Studies master’s program with a concentration in Women and Gender Studies. David’s interests within the program involve but are not limited to twentieth century feminist literature, gender representation in popular culture, and social constructions of masculinity. At Mason, David is the graduate assistant for Women and Gender Studies as well as LGBTQ Resources. In these positions David is responsible for programming, graduate student engagement, and recruiting students for classes. With his expertise in Women and Gender Studies, David hopes to pursue a career in higher education through working in a diversity/identity-based resource center. He earned his BA degree in English and Humanities from Milligan College in Johnson City, Tennessee. For leisure, David loves to read, watch movies, and hang out with friends. David is excited to be part of Stop Street Harassment and looks forward to becoming more involved in the organization.

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Transit Agencies in DC and NYC do more to Address Harassment

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This is going to be a big month for anti-harassment efforts on public transportation. In Washington, DC, Collective Action for Safe Spaces and I have been working with our transit agency on an updated PSA campaign that we hope will launch on Oct. 25 for the UNiTE’s #OrangeDay around sexual harassment in public spaces. CASS is also launching its RightRides services on October 31, to give women and LGBQT folks a safe, free ride home late that night.

And this week, big changes were announced in New York City. Via Metro:

“The MTA is taking new approaches to combating sexual harassment, including adding cameras in new trains and an improved reporting system for victims and witnesses.

Public Advocate Letitia James and community activist groups Hollaback!, the Straphangers Campaign and the New York City Anti-Violence Project, announced the new measure Wednesday morning outside the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Station.

The public advocate’s office said recent data showed some 3,000 women reported sexual misconduct incidents in the subway between 2008 and 2013, and that the majority of the incidents occurred on the 4, 5 and 6 trains during the morning rush.

James previously called for improved measures, outlined in an Aug. 1 letter to MTA Chairman Thomas F. Prendergast. Prendergast responded to James’ requests in a Sept. 25 letter.

Prendergast said the MTA has been running announcements on inappropriate touching since 2009, and will take further steps in hopes of improving rider safety and reporting. They are: links on the MTA homepage; reviewing with subway employees or how to handle improper conduct reports; a revised map that shows NYPD Transit Bureau locations and a new public service announcement that focuses on bystanders.

MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz said 940 new trains set to replace old cars as part of the 2015-209 Capital Program will have cameras installed. Ortiz said the MTA is considering adding cameras in a new fleet of 300 trains. Currently, no MTA trains have cameras in the cars, Ortiz said.

Ortiz said the new PSA is still in development, and does not have a set launch date.”

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Kansas City, MO, Passes Anti-Harassment Ordinance

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Our Safe Public Spaces Mentoring Program mentee BikeWalkKC has been working hard to pass an anti-harassment ordinance in Kansas City. It just passed last night. From Sarah Shipley:

“Ordinance 140777 is a success, with a unanimous vote from the city council. During the process to pass it, we found an ally in the ACLU, rekindled a relationship with our local ADA advocacy organization, and really solidified our relationship with council members at city hall. It has quite frankly been an amazing experience….

Also, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, is voting on a very similar ordinance tonight, and Kansas City, Kansas, will consider this in November!”

Congratulations to them on their hard work.

Here is the text for the ordinance:

140777 (Sub.)Amending Chapter 50, Article VI, Offenses Against Public Safety, by enacting a new Section 50-205 which will prohibit certain acts against bicyclists, pedestrians, and wheelchair operators.

SECOND COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR ORDINANCE NO. 140777, AS AMENDED

Amending Chapter 50, Article VI, Offenses Against Public Safety, by enacting a new Section 50-205 which will prohibit certain acts against bicyclists, pedestrians, and wheelchair operators.

WHEREAS, Kansas City wants to encourage modes of transportation other than motor vehicles; and

WHEREAS, it is desirable to create a healthy, safe environment in Kansas City for all people; and

WHEREAS, harassment of bicyclists, pedestrians (including those walking with a guide dog or a white cane), and wheelchair operators increases the hazards already posed to these persons operating on our City streets; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

Section 1. That Chapter 50, Article VI, Offenses Against Public Safety, is hereby amended by enacting a new Section 50-205, Harassment of a Bicyclist, Pedestrian or Wheelchair Operator, to read as follows:

Sec. 50-205. Harassment of a Bicyclist, Pedestrian or Wheelchair Operator

(a)    The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them below, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Bicycle means any device upon which a person may ride, which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains, or gears, and may include an electric assist motor, and has wheels at least 16 inches in diameter and a frame size of at least 13 inches.

Wheelchair means any manual or motorized device designed specifically for use by a person with a physical disability for means of conveyance.

(b)   No person shall, for the purpose of intimidating or injuring any person riding a bicycle, walking, running, or operating a wheelchair or for the purpose of intimidating or injuring such person’s service animal:

(1)               Throw an object, direct a projectile, or operate a vehicle at or in such person’s direction or at or in the direction of such person’s service animal; or

(2)               Threaten such person; or

(3)               Sound a horn, shout or otherwise direct loud or unusual sounds toward such person or toward such person’s service animal; or

(4)               Place such person in apprehension of immediate physical injury; or

(5)               Engage in conduct that creates a risk of death or serious physical injury to such person or such person’s service animal.

(c)    Any person convicted of a violation of this chapter shall be punished for that violation by a fine of not less than $50.00, but not more than $500.00 or by imprisonment of not more than 180 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.

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Meet Our 2014-16 Board Members!

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SSH received 501c3 status just over two years ago, and with the expansion from website to organization came the creation of the board. I am so grateful to the founding board members who served the 2012-14 term and helped fundraise for the national street harassment study, participated in International Anti-Street Harassment Week, and more.

Our 2014-16 board starts their term today and I am so excited for you to meet them and read about their work. The board spans 9 states (AZ, CA, MD, MN, NE, NY, OH, TX, VA) and DC and include two professors researching street harassment, a lawyer (who also is behind Cards against Harassment), a college student, a public health advocate, an artist (who also works on Safe Streets AZ), and several nonprofit professionals with marketing, research, communications, and social media skills. They each bring important and needed perspectives to the issue and I have no doubt SSH will become a stronger organization with their help.

If you work with media, they are available for interviews on behalf of SSH going forward.

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