Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Street groper in Leeds

By

I walked right the way across town back from my friends house, through 3 neighbourhoods where I’ve had trouble before. I was tense the whole way, expecting trouble. I got within 20 metres of my house and was starting to relax, amazed that I hadn’t been harrassed. Then a group of 4 men in their late teens/early 20s came the other way down the pavement. I stepped to the inside of the pavement to pass them and instinctively felt unsafe because I could be penned in against the railings rather than have access to the road.

As I passed them, one of the men just lightly put his hand out and brushed my breast – subtle but absolutely intentional. I was expecting homophobic aggression rather than any kind of sexual harassment so was totally taken by surprise. I was a few steps beyond them before I turned round… I don’t think I even said anything. But the one guy kept looking back really quick, I stared him out but was too shocked and surprised to shout at him.

This was in broad daylight on a busy street, next to a park that was hosting a family festival. I spent the rest of the day trying not to let it bother me, because I already have a lot of stress in my life from homophobic abuse and the threat of physical violence. But I feel a small surge of shame every time I think about it, even though I know it’s not my fault.

– K

Location: next to Banstead Park, Harehills, Leeds (north England)

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.

Share

“It’s horrible to feel like you’re an object to be felt up”

By

I was walking my friend to the train station on a busy Friday night with lots of people on the street. A couple of guys walked past and one grabbed my arse. I turned around & saw him and his friend laughing.

I started walking towards them and shouted: “What the hell do you think you’re doing you f***ing arsehole.”

I wasn’t afraid, I was just disgusted and very, very angry. They continued laughing and walking away, they did not seem bothered at all. It’s horrible to feel like you’re an object to be felt up by any passing peasant.

– Anonymous

Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK

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.

Share

Prey

By

I was walking home in NYC on a Saturday night on a residential street. The street was not deserted. A man walking towards me stopped and followed me for a few blocks. When I quickly turned down another street to walk next to another woman, he pushed in between us, groped me, and then quickly walked away.

While he was first following me, I was afraid and was mostly concerned about ducking into a store and getting away. After he groped me I was completely stunned and angry that I didn’t get a chance to fight back. I felt powerless.

– anonymous

Location: New York City, NY

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.

Share

Gropers Caught in Boston!

By

Earlier this week, a 52-year old man allegedly groped a young woman’s butt on a subway platform in Boston. She asked the man’s friend if he groped her and he said no. The alleged groper then chimed in saying it was him and that he bet she liked it and that he liked it and he was never going to see her again, so what did it matter.

The young woman reported him to police, who thankfully took her report seriously and arrested him. Good for her, good for the police. BOO to the stupid groper. I wonder how many other women he’s groped?! Hopefully she was the last. [Wordpress won’t let me embed it, but follow this link to see a short news clip about the story.]

Also that same night in a separate incident, police arrested another subway groper. A 37-year-old man groped a woman and then verbally harased her until she got off the train and reported him.

Last weekend MBTA launched more anti-sexual harassment ads on subways and buses, including this one:

Given how many men grope women on subways and buses in major cities around the world, other cities would do well to pay attention and perhaps start their own campaign and educate their MTA workers and police officers how to handle reports correctly, the way the officers did in these two incidents. Good job, Boston!

Share

Man Gropes Woman Holding Baby in Philly

By

Stories don’t get much more messed up than this one…

Yesterday morning, a young woman was riding the El train in Philadelphia, PA, and she was holding her infant on her lap. A man sat beside her, threatened her and groped her at knife point. No one else in the car realized what was happening. He got off at Eighth and Market Streets and the woman got off there too, to call the police.  Via the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Groper on the El Train in Philadelphia“The man was described as 30 to 40 years old, about 5-foot-3, and 150 to 160 pounds. He had slicked-back blond hair, wore a black shirt and pants, and his left ring finger was bandaged and in a splint, police said. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251.”

What is wrong with people?!

Share