Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“I was targeted as a woman with children”

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I was walking through the Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough with my two small children; one of them a baby; the other an autistic toddler. I saw a LOVEFiLM display and moved to avoid them. The salesman walked over and I politely said no thank you. I tried to move on and he stood in front of my pram and I said no.

He then became very aggressive and started shouting, “No, no? You don’t say no to me; nobody says no to me.”

I was very frightened – as a rape victim these are particularly terrifying words. I said that they were representing their company and being rude. I looked to the other salesman for back-up and he just started laughing at me. I walked away with both assistants shouting after me. I had to get my husband to pick me up as I was too scared to walk back through the shopping centre.

I contacted Lovefilm and they said sorry but they have to protect the statutory rights of the employee. Apparently, my right not to be abused in public is secondary.

I cannot help but think this would not have happened if I was a six foot male. I was targeted as a woman with children.

– Anonymous

Location: Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough, UK

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Ottawa Community Calls for Increased Safety Measures on Public Transit

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Cross-posted with permission from Hollaback! Ottawa.

May 15, 2013 Hollaback! Ottawa, in partnership with WISE: Women’s Initiatives for Safer Environments, hosted an open forum where approximately 70 community members gathered in the Bronson Centre to discuss the issue of safety on Ottawa’s public transit.

Transit riders were given the space to share their experiences through an open mic, a survey and an anonymous story drop-off. Participants spoke about being followed home from transit stops, being groped by fellow passengers, witnessing public masturbation on transit and being followed from seat to seat by belligerent men. They spoke about idle bystanders and the various reasons they never reported it.  Although their stories varied, there was a consistent call for increased awareness of the issue.

The latter portion of the evening included a short presentation on Hollaback! Ottawa’s vision for safer transit. Hollaback! Ottawa has been calling for the creation of a public awareness campaign focusing on bystander intervention. Using case studies from other communities across North America, Hollaback! showed examples of successful bystander intervention campaigns and then opened the floor for feedback.

There was a lively discussion about the need for increased awareness about the prevalence of harassment and assault on transit, the importance of making information accessible and a stronger response from OC Transpo, City Hall and the Ottawa Police Service. From the animated dialogue came five solid recommendations.

In order to address safety on transit, participants recommended:

1-     Creation of a campaign that clearly identifies the issue so that transit riders are better equipped to spot the problem.

2-     Creation of a campaign that visibly lays out existing services and reporting mechanisms.

3-     Creation of a public education campaign that focuses on tangible ways that people can safely intervene.

4-     Increased training for drivers, Special Constables, maintenance staff, etc.

5-     Creation of an anonymous reporting mechanism to encourage reporting.

Furthermore, participants were adamant that a partnership between community organizations and OC Transpo and Ottawa Police Service was vital. Seeing a visible partnership would send a strong message to the community that safety is genuinely a priority on public transit.

Hollaback! Ottawa launched a qualitative survey on May 15 that will be closing on July 1, 2013. A full report of the survey results and detailed information from the forum will be made available mid-July.

For more information: Julie Lalonde, Hollaback! Ottawa:  Ottawa@ihollaback.org

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“I have never wanted to disappear more”

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My boyfriend dropped me off about three blocks away from where I was supposed to meet my friend for brunch. Two guys were walking behind me and they began to talk loudly about all of the things they wanted to sexually do to me, how I probably liked it, etc.

I ignored them and kept walking. They continued to follow me. I had to stop at a busy intersection and they caught up to me. One of them got in front of me and when I ignored him and tried to walk around him they started calling me a “whore, slut, bitch,” and a “dog.”

Yelling these things as they followed me for a good block before turning off onto another street. Everyone was just staring at me.

I have never wanted to disappear more than in that moment.

– Anonymous

Location: Boston, MA

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“NO! You may not!”

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I was at a concert when my flip flop broke. On my way out of the crowd a man grabbed my rear. I spun around and smacked him over the head with my flip flop and yelled, “NO! You may not!”

He was so surprised he didn’t even acknowledge the fact that I had just hit him.

There are two types of street harassers; men who think they are giving you compliments and men who want to feel powerful. Both need to be responded to but in different ways.

– Wesley Anne

Location: At a concert

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Harassed with her parents

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One day I was sitting with my parent in a restaurant and a bunch of guys harassed me while they were passing by. I don’t get how did they even get the ability to do it while I am sitting with my parents.

– Anonymous

Location: In a restaurant

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