Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“Imagine not being able to just walk down the street”

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“Walking home isn’t always just that simple. Many teenage girls deal with insults, confrontations, and unwelcome advances – making a seemingly routine trip, a scary ordeal. ‘Stop Street Harassment’ is a demonstration of this experience, from a young lady’s point of view.”

This important PSA against street harassment was created by Ashanti Smiley, Patrice Bishop, Demetrius Labon, and Anthony Walton, juniors and seniors in high school in Chicago.

They created the PSA through Free Spirit Media, which provides education, access, and opportunity in media production to over 500 of Chicago’s under-served urban youth every year.

Patrice Bishop, the female student featured in the video, said they decided to focus on street harassment because “street harassment was happening to a lot of young ladies and it is something in the community that needs to be changed.”

Agreed. And they are creating that change by identifying the problem and saying it’s not okay.

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“He kept following me in his car…trying to get me in his car despite me refusing”

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I was walking home from the store and I heard car honks. My mind didn’t automatically think the honking was toward me. It blared again and I turned around to see a guy in a car following me.

He yelled out, asking me for my address and if he can take me home. I told him politely I don’t give my address to strangers and I’m not comfortable getting into strangers’ cars.

He then yelled his name at me and said he’s not trying to find out where I live. Um, ok.

I had to go into a store because he kept following me in his car for at least three blocks, trying to get me in his car despite me refusing.

– Anonymous

Location: Chicago, IL

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.

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“Avoiding my silent cry for support”

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While walking to the train the other day, I noticed a group of young men ahead of me who were standing off to one side of the sidewalk. At this point, there was plenty of room for me to walk by, but once they spotted me approaching, they seemed to all exchange a look and moved to spread themselves across the width of the sidewalk, blocking my path. Once I reached them, I had to attempt to weave my way through. While I was doing this, they started at various volumes to say nasty things to me, some leaning close to hiss in my ear, and one grabbed my butt.

I quickly got past them and continued to hurry to my train stop. The whole experience was infuriating on so many levels. I wanted to lash out at them and to defend myself, but being outnumbered, I felt powerless and concerned for my safety not knowing what else they would do seeing as, clearly, they had no respect for me or my body. Even more frustrating, I was on a busy street and there were plenty of people around. NONE of them responded to the situation or tried to help. Some looked in my direction, but when I met their gaze, they quickly averted their eyes, avoiding my silent cry for support.

It’s incidents like this that have infected my daily life. They have become contributing factors when I’m making decisions about what to wear, if I’ll go somewhere, which route I’ll take, what time of day I’ll be out, etc. I feel as though the right to walk freely in public spaces is one I’ve been denied.

– anonymous

Location: Chicago

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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CTA anti-harassment ads

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Chicago transit riders may notice something new on their commutes. CTA recently launched print Public Service Announcements that say:

If it’s unwanted, it’s harassment. Touching. Rude comments. Leering. Speak up. If you see something, say something.

At the bottom, the ads list information for who to contact if a rider is the target of sexual harassment.

Both Boston and New York City have anti-sexual harassment subway ad campaigns too.

The Young Women’s Action Team‘s 2009 subway & bus survey results and recommendations led to Chicago’s campaign. They have been doing amazing work since 2003 and hopefully their successes will inspire other people to take action and work to make a difference in their own community too.

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Morning drive by

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Chicago, IL – I was walking from my boyfriend’s northwest side apt one morning (around 6 am), on the way to the bus back to my place. A tan van slowed down and kept pace with me while I walked for about half a block. I gave it an annoyed look; it sped up and drove off.

I’d walked that 1.5 blocks before with no problem but the van just made me realize that the mornings were darker, I was alone and no one would be around if something happened to me.

Nothing was said – but then, nothing needed to be said. A van slowing down to follow a woman alone on a dark street, at sunrise? Not a compliment. Menacing.

– anonymous

Location: Chicago, IL

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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