Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“I repeatedly say no”

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I was catching the bus early in the morning before 8 a.m. I was alone at the bus stop. I was unable to drive because of expired registration. I am 38 and I live alone. I seldom travel early mornings or at night because of this. Women are not respected and I often find that I am targeted because I am alone. An old man in his sixties pulls up and repeatedly tells me to get in his car. I repeatedly say no. He refuses to leave. Meanwhile, a bus arrives and stops across the street. Some people get off. One of them crosses the street, he is a man near my age. I asked him when he came near to call the police. He goes near the old man and tells him to leave. Another man joins him. The old man still would not leave until the other two threatened to call the police.

– MW

Location: Atlanta, GA

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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“Your violence gave me so much strength and anger to fight over and over.”

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You probably have already forgotten what happened when I was happily walking to prom last night. You and your friends got back home together, maybe had a drink or two and then slept from midnight until ten this morning. You certainly told your girlfriend you had a great time with your friends and then spent the day with her. You may not even remember my face, my voice or my tears.

The thing is that I can’t forget. I remember every word you said and every physical contact you tried to have with me. I remember some of your friends laughing. I remember my legs shaking and the tears running on my cheeks. I remember my voice trying to tell you to go away.

You told me I was a whore and then that I probably never had sex and blamed me for that. My vagina is mine, not yours. Don’t try to make me ashamed of it. You told me I was a bum because I wouldn’t let you “seduce” me. If you call harassment “seduction”, then you are totally wrong. You told me I was worthless because I didn’t want you to take me home. You told me you hoped I would die because I didn’t want to suck your dick. You told me so much things that I won’t ever forget.

I had four panic attacks since you harassed me at 8:45 pm. I tried to enjoy prom but I couldn’t because I was terrified. Terrified you would come back. Terrified because it was the first time a guy would be so violent with me in the street, even if it had already happened before. Terrified because I’m only 17 and I know it certainly won’t be the last time. I have been trying to sleep but the words you threw me turn in a loop in my head.

I know I am not the first you harassed.

I know I am not the last.

You may have thought you would drag me so down I wouldn’t say anything and would never try to defend myself in such situations. You were wrong.

Your violence gave me so much strength and anger to fight over and over.

– L

Location: Grenoble, France

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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“Doesn’t make it right to say”

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I was walking my aunt’s dog when a teenager yelled out the window of his van,” Lick my ****.”I was too shocked to say anything and it put me in a horrible mood. He came out of his van to apologize, saying that he meant to say it to the girl across the street. Just because it wasn’t particularly aimed at me, doesn’t make it right to say. I know that and I’m only 12, so why don’t guys understand?

– Anonymous

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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Harasser Shoots Man for Telling Him to Stop Disrespecting His Wife

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Via Fox 13 News:

“Shortly before midnight on Sunday, officers say Bradley Mills was outside his home on Mason Avenue [in Florida] with his wife. Mills says he saw and heard two men two houses down staring and whistling at his wife, and told them to stop disrespecting her.

According to the police report, Mills’ wife went inside, and when Mills followed, he heard one of the men shout after him. He allegedly ignored him and kept walking, but turned when the man called out again and saw the man holding a gun, which he shot towards the ground. Then, Mills says the man shot several times at him while following him towards his house. Two of the bullets hit Mills, and he told his wife to call 911.

Authorities say they tracked down the shooter and identified him as Rolando Fernandez Rodriquez. He was arrested at his home on Pine Avenue in Haines City.

Mills was treated for two gunshot wounds at the Heart of Florida Hospital. He is expected to be okay. Rodriquez was transported to the Polk County Jail and charged with Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree.”

Bradley Mills did everything right as a witness to street harassment. The scary reality is, you never know which harasser will escalate — some will escalate if you ignore, if you speak back assertively (as he did), or if you lash out. All we can do is make the best decision we can in the moment and try to stay safe.

I am grateful he told the harassers they were disrespectful and I’m relieved he will recover from his injuries.

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“I was terrified the whole time”

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I was walking around at night by myself. As I walked past this one house, two guys came out onto the porch. I’m sure they were drunk. They were also in their forties. I’m 23. I didn’t even acknowledge them, but one said, “Hello” and the other, “How YOU doin?!” in a really creepy sexy voice.

I never stopped walking, but I turned slightly and said, “F**k off.” Maybe not the best response, but I’m simply sick of guys using my being outside as an excuse to him on me. Especially since they’re twice my age. That’s super creepy and disgusting.

The one started screaming at me, “What the f**k did you just say to me?! Come back here!” I told him no and kept walking. He got off his porch and started coming after me. I yelled at him that I had mace and I’d mace him if he didn’t leave me alone, but he keeping coming after me. So I just walked away as fast as I could. He kept telling me to come back. He followed me for a block or two. Then we came up to an intersection where there were a few people across the street. At that point, I called back, “Just leave me the f**k alone!” And he finally said ok and backed off.

But I’m afraid the only reason he did was because those other people. I was scared out of my mind. I had no idea what would happen, what he would do if he got close to me. But I just knew I couldn’t let him get that close. I was disgusted that he had the audacity to try to flirt with me when I was just trying to walk. But once he started coming after me, I was terrified the whole time. I was terrified that he was going to beat the shit out of me, or worse rape me…

Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?

I’m not sure. I think one of the main problems is that women aren’t respected and are simply viewed as property. If we could change that view, I think the streets would be a lot safer.

– Irena

Location: Out on the street, Latrobe PA USA

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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