Meet Us on the Street 2012: What Happened

What We’re Doing & Why:

Meet Us on the Street: International Anti-Street Harassment Week takes place each spring.

Read a report detailing the events of the week in March 2012.

* Read a quick round-up post about the week and view photos showing the activism that took place in more than 20 countries!

Here is a sampling of international and USA-based events:

* In Afghanistan, Young Women for Change hosted a debate on March 23 about street harassment and how to respond to it. INFO.

* In Argentina, Hollaback! Buenos Aires had a stand at the Women’s Counsel (el consejo de la mujer)’s monthly fair, where they handed out information about anti-street-harassment week.

* In Brussels, Belgium, on March 24 there was a “ChalkWalk” and people walked to places where they were harassed and wrote, “I was harassed here. I reclaim this space. –name.” INFO.

* In Ottowa, Canada, on March 24, people participated in a rally at the Ottawa Women’s Memorial, organized by Hollaback Ottawa. INFO.

* In Montréal, Canada, Women in Cities International released a new report on March 21. INFO. They also hosted a Women’s Safety Audit Walk in partnership with the radio station CKUT and Concordia University’s Gender Advocacy Centre.

* In Montréal, Canada, Hollaback Montréal hosted a screening of “War Zone” and “Walking Home” on March 22. INFO.

* In Croatia, Hollaback Croatia held an event on bystander work around street harassment.

* In Egypt, HarassMap had teams fan out across Cairo, Alexandria, Assiut and Minia, and Mansoura, to talk to community members about street harassment on March 24. INFO.

* In Germany, Pro Change passed out over 2000 “red cards” against sexism and “pink cards” against homophobia, along with informational pamphlets about street harassment and people’s rights throughout the week. INFO.

* In India, Safe Delhi organized a street event at Delhi University and online action around street harassment and outrage over the recent gang rape of a woman who was traveling home from work at night. INFO. Update: They held a rally on Saturday, March 24, 5:30 p.m.

* In India, Must Bol is collecting photos of the clothes women were wearing when they were street harassed (www.gotstarted.at)

* In India, Breakthrough launched an online campaign asking people to be heroes and stand up against street harassment. There were posters, statements, blog posts, and more.

* In Chennai, India, activists are collecting photos of the places where people have been street harassed. Send yours.

* In Malaysia, The Pixel Project added a new section about street harassment to their anti-gender violence website.

* In Mexico, Hollaback! Mexico DF distributed information about the week following a caberet show.

* In Norway, Bipper and Aksjon mot voldekt launched a new website where people can share street harassment stories (as either the target or bystander)

* In Pakistan students at university SZABIST hosted a “How to respond to harassment” sessions and self defense class with Babar Khan Jawed on March 21.

* In Turkey, Hollaback Istanbul hosted a panel discussion, a screening of the documentary “Miss Representation” at universities, and hosted a story sharing event where people could meet up at a cafe and discuss their stories of harassment.

* In the UK, Black Feminists UK posted one story per day on their blog recounting an incident of street harassment in the UK, India, countries in Africa and beyond to show that street harassment is a worldwide problem for women.

* In the UK, the UK Anti-Street Harassment Campaign hosed a photo series of people holding signs saying, “Flirting. Harassment. Real men Know The Difference.” INFO.

* In Yemen, Safe Streets collected women’s street harassment stories and released a booklet of those stories that week.

In the USA, there are many planned forms of action, including:

* More than 100 groups showed the short film Walking Home and hold discussions about street harassment.

* MasculnityU blogged about men’s roles in ending street harassment and create an interactive scenario where readers will vote on their active “bystander” tactic to end street harassment.

* A community conversation and art exhibit on the topic in AZ. INFO

* Flyer-ing outside the 16th Street Bart Station in San Francisco, CA, on March 21. INFO.

* A Girls Forum in San Luis Obispo, CA, on March 24. INFO.

* A screening of War Zone at Santa Monica College, CA, on March 22. INFO.

* The Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center talked about street harassment during presentations with middle and high school students, CA.

* The DC Trans Coalition and student groups at George Washington University produced fliers you can download and post in bathrooms about the harassment of transgender individuals. Fliers: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

* Stop street harassment discussion on March 22 at Western Illinois University, IL. INFO.

* The teenage girls with A Long Walk Home marched in their school community on March 21 2012, 12:30-1:30pm, Chicago IL.

* Free Spirit Media had students at North Lawndale College Prep in Chicago, IL, watch videos on street harassment and then write a reflection journal.

* Mud stenciling across Baltimore, MD, March 18. INFO.

* The Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault submitted a press release to local news agencies, ran a Facebook campaign, record a video about why responding to street harassment is important. ME.

* Sidewalk chalking in Minneapolis, MN, on March 19. INFO.

* Discussions about street harassment in more than 60 middle and high schools in NY

* A March 24 rally + other activities in New York City, NY. Overall INFO | Info 3/20 event – self defense class | Inf0 3/22 event – Hollaback’s bystander campaign launch | Info 3/23 event – Window Sex Project performance | Info 3/24 event – Rally!

* A March 22, campus discussion on street harassment at the University of Toledo, OH. INFO. PDF Flier.

* Many events in Philadelphia, PA: Self-defense 3/18 | Film screenings and spoken word 3/21 | Street teams + sidewalk chalking (1-2:30 p.m.) Rally (3 p.m.) 3/24

* An art exhibit on the topic of street harassment in Charlottesville, VA, March 16. INFO.