Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Brussels Makes Offensive Speech Punishable by Fines

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Posing like the tourist that I was in downtown Brussels

Many verbal forms of street harassment are meant to humiliate, annoy or anger the recipient (e.g. sexually explicit language, demands for a smile, calling someone a bitch, dike, fag, or whore) and those forms should, in my opinion, be considered hate speech or, at the very least, offensive speech.

Maybe I should move to Brussels.

Officials in Brussels recently updated their “Regulation of Public conduct” to make offensive language spoken in public spaces in the city punishable by fines. This includes racist and homophobic comments and sexual harassment.

Via International Business Times:

“City officials in Belgium’s capital Brussels recently announced a set of new fines that target use of offensive language in public.

“Any form of insult is from now on punishable, whether it be racist, homophobic or otherwise,” Brussels Mayor Freddy Thielemans’ spokesperson quoted him as saying.

Authorities plan to impose fines of between 75 and 250 euros for using offensive language in public, including sexual harassment, in an attempt to not only deter potential offenders, but to encourage law enforcement to crack down on such behavior.

The mayor’s spokesman said the courts had previously been too busy to take on such cases, which resulted in police having “little incentive to take any action over such incidents,” the Daily Telegraph reported.”

I didn’t see it mentioned in any articles, but presumably now the courts will be able to take on these cases?

Visit Hollaback Brussels’ website to learn more about this change and their thoughts about it.

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“I was scared that I was going to get assaulted for appearing differently than I should”

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To set the tone of this conflict, please know that I am a women with short hair. I was wearing a simple t-shirt and lounge style shorts.

I was walking late at night to do some laundry downtown in Reed City. I noticed a group of men gathered outside the backdoor of a bar, at quite a distance as to obscure their features, who were smoking cigarettes. I was a little nervous at this point. I became hyper aware of statistics of violence against women and felt that it might be reasonable to stop slouching. Perhaps if I look confident then I won’t get attacked, I thought.

The closer that I got to them the more nervous I felt. I began to tread quickly, while hoping for the best. There was no point in turning back as I was halfway there. Besides, what if I had it all wrong? Or what if I ignited an animal desire within them to pursue me?

Just after I crossed Old 131 & The Pere Marquette Trail, one of the men yelled, “Hey, girl or guy?” I instinctively ignored him and kept walking. This was not a battle worth engaging in despite my deep feelings about rigid gender roles. As I disappeared behind a set of buildings lining the block I heard him say, “Yep, guy.”

Thankfully nothing else happened. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but I was scared that I was going to get assaulted for appearing differently than I should. It happens occasionally, especially to people who appear at all queer. I called a family member to give me a ride home after frantically texting a few people online for support. Those moments waiting for the arrival of my family member were frightening. I was seriously afraid for my safety, as the laundromat was deserted and the men were at a bar down the street.

All in all, I do feel like a dunce for walking so late at night alone. I likely won’t do such a thing again at all. I just assumed that it would be safer since it was a small town and I needed to squeeze some laundry in real quick before the next day.

I also feel conflicted about my appearance. I usually dress in a way that I find comfortable and admittedly don’t strive to appear like a woman “should”. The incident made me feel insecure about my appearance. I decided not to change myself, yet doubt still lingers about whether I should dress more feminine.

I feel that this incident has also changed the way that I feel about Reed City. I don’t feel like it would be safe to walk late at night around downtown anymore and I feel less welcome in the community even during the day.

– Anonymous

Location: Reed City, MI

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Snapshot of street harassment stories, news, announcements & tweets: September 2, 2012

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Read stories, news articles, blog posts, and tweets about street harassment from the past few weeks.

** Sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter from Stop Street Harassment ***

Street Harassment Stories:

Share your story! You can read street harassment stories on the Web at:

Stop Street Harassment Blog

HarassMap in Egypt

Bijoya in Bangladesh

Resist Harassment in Lebanon

Ramallah Street Watch in Palestine

Name and Shame in Pakistan

Safe Streets in Yemen

Street Harassment in South Africa

Many of the Hollaback sites

Street Harassment In the News, on the Blogs:

* Rapid City Journal, “Activist probes street harassment of Indian women“; ArgusLeader.com, “Native women: Street harassment common“

* Washington Post, “Dupont Circle bicycle groper committed a crime, not a misdemeanor“

* Yemen Times, “Police: Sexual harassment law needs re-wording“

* The Times of India, “Will they stop teasing us if we stop wearing jeans?“

* Femination, “Belgian Documentary on Street Harassment“

* The Independent, “Everyday Sexism: It isn’t restricted to adults – even young girls in school uniform share their experiences“

* Hindustan Times, “Eve teasers beat up pregnant woman“

* YouTube Video, “Sidewalk Sexual Harasser: You’re an A-Hole Ep. 3“

* Yorkshire Evening Post, “Express How to change the world… in your pyjamas“

Announcements:

Bowlmor ad, image via Equality Now

New:

* Contact Bowlmor and the New York City Transit to complain about this offensive subway ad.

Reminders:

* Stop Street Harassment recently incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Please donate so we can conduct a national street harassment study and gather much needed data documenting the problem.

* Vote for Hollaback Philly’s transit ad project

* Activists in South Africa launched a new website about street harassment

* The anti-sexual harassment public service announcement signs are now up in several Washington, DC metro stations!

* The Stop Street Harassment book is available in paperback for $15.

* Submit art about street harassment for the VoiceTool Product exhibit in San Francisco, CA

* The Adventures of Salwa campaign has a hotline for sexual harassment cases in Lebanon: 76-676862.

* In Bangalore, India, there is a helpline for street harassment 080 – 22943225 / 22864023

* Report #streetharassment in Pakistan at @NameAndShamePk, email nameandshame@ryse.pk, SMS 0314-800-35-68 or online at http://www.nameandshame.pk

15 Tweets from the Week:

1. @JasminePeterso6 FYI to the assholes in front of the bar: Hollering and catcalling at a woman out for a run at 2am is not sexy. It’s scary. #StreetHarassment

2. @neverthatblonde Ah, being told ‘I’d like to bang you bang you proper style’ is such a nice thing to have shouted at you on the way home #streetharassment

3. @MsJenko One day women will be able to walk down a street without being subjected to abuse,when that day will come I have no clue.. #streetharassment

4. @angiewrites #streetharassment RT @bretta75: Nothing quite as uncomfortable as walking down a street lined with construction guys having lunch… -_-

5. @laurevans311 Just got: “alright darlin’?” I ignored it the man started shouting: “oh I see, too good to talk to me are we princess?!” #streetharassment

6. @thekateblack “Halloween is over, honey.” “This is the blood from the last guy who told me that.” #streetharassment

7. @FeistyFeminist1 #streetharassment blows. Got harassed twice during my 10 minute walk down Pennsylvania Ave SE. Don’t fuck with me this week. #DC

8. @emilhop I think that if every male pictured his mother before #streetharassment , he probably wouldn’t do it.

9. @vanbakes I CANNOT take another minute of the #streetharassment in #Dublin.

10. @SurMadam I’m not on the auction block, stop picking apart my body. Not to mention, your grossness is a libido killer. #streetharassment

11. @ljoywilliams Calling out body parts or yelling out how you would like to sexual violate me IS #StreetHarassment

12. @queenkaye does ‘aye yo, sexy eyes, ‘ when covered fr head to toe walking on eastern pkwy in the dead of winter count? #streetharassment @ljoywilliams

13. @silverspeakers Just approached aggressively by man: “I would rock your world. You’re totally my type.” #streetharassment

14.@emilhop Hi, blond man on the 57 bus inbound at ~9am. I can see you looking at my chest. You’re not invisible. But you are scum. #streetharassment

15. @nualacabral Must read for anyone who has had their #RACE and #GENDER simultaneously called into question during #streetharassment: http://goo.gl/0aM0M

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“This was over 30 years ago, and I’m still mad about it to this day”

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I was driving a truck east on the 55 Freeway, pulling a horse trailer with a horse in it, trying to get out of a lane, which forced me to exit. The car next to me slowed every time I slowed. I was trying to let him pass so I could move over a lane to remain on the freeway. Finally, I looked over to see what the problem was, and the man was masturbating.

When I looked, he flipped on his dome light, continued his demonstration for a moment, then flipped off the light and sped off through traffic. First I was horrified. Then I was dismayed. Then I got really, really mad, and felt completely helpless and taken advantage of. I didn’t think to get his license plate, but I always fantasized about knocking on his door to tell the wife I imagined he had. This was over 30 years ago, and I’m still mad about it to this day.

– Amelia Smith

Location: 55 Freeway, Costa Mesa, CA

Donate to help fund a national study on street harassment.

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem.

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DC Groper Admits to 8 Attacks, Will Likely Face Almost No Punishment

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In early July, Washington, DC resident Liz Gorman was sexually assaulted in DC’s Dupont Circle. The next day Liz, who immediately reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police Department, wrote about her experience on the Collective Action for Safe Spaces blog. By Friday, the post had set off a viral reaction, both locally and nationally. Fast forward to late August and we have some good and bad news.

The Good News: After Liz and then four other women reported the alleged assailant, the DC Police looked for him and found him.

Via The Washington Post:

“The police did interviews, took statements, watched hours of security video until they froze the frame there — right there! — and found the jerk on the bike, his victim screaming next to him.

Then they caught the guy they believe is responsible for the attacks. Oscar Mauricio Cornejo-Pena even told them: Yup, he did it. He was a most helpful suspect, even offering up some crimes the cops didn’t know about.

“He admitted that he committed numerous similar offenses, possibly eight or more,” according to the charging documents drawn up by Officer Alexander MacBean.”

Thank you, DCPD! This story illustrates just how often harassers are repeat offenders. Most people don’t harass others, but some people harass a lot of other people.

The Bad News: He wasn’t charged for assaulting Liz, only the other four women. Plus, his conviction is pretty weak.

Also via The Washington Post:

“He was charged with “misdemeanor sexual abuse (with aggravating circumstances),” which, according to D.C. Official Code, is punishable by jail time of “not more than 180 days, and, in addition, may be fined in an amount not to exceed $1,000.”

That means that terrorizing women who are walking down the street, roughing them up and grabbing their privates gets you the same punishment as attending a cockfight, impersonating a police officer, trespassing on someone’s lawn or selling a fake Gucci purse.

In the District, sentencing guidelines say that a person who breaks into a vending machine or a parking meter should get more jail time (up to three years) and pay a bigger fine (up to $3,000) than a sociopath who violates women on the street….

The truth is, he’s probably not going to get any real jail time, said Chai Shenoy, a lawyer who specializes in sexual assault and who runs a group in the District, Collective Action for Safe Spaces.

Of the cases she has taken on, the ones where women are groped on Metro, violated on the street or attacked in their neighborhoods, she has never had a criminal conviction for that type of street harassment.

“We applaud the police for taking the crimes seriously, using their resources and working hard to make an arrest,” she said. “But it’s a double-edged sword. We want police to take these crimes seriously, we want prosecutors to take these crimes seriously and then, at the end of the day, we have sentencing guidelines that won’t provide justice.”

And that’s what we’re up against. Even if/when we report harassers and even if/when the police take it seriously and find them, the penalties are pretty weak. So, it can make you wonder if it’s even worth the time or energy. As hard as prevention is, it’s going to be the best way to stop street harassment for the next generation.

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