Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

16 Days – Day 4: A Dad Stops a Harasser

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Each day across the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, we will highlight a 2018 activism effort undertaken to stop street harassment or a personal story about stopping harassers!

Day 4: A Dad Stops a Harasser

When a dad in California noticed a 29-year-old man start videotaping his 15-year-old daughter in a Target and crouch by another woman to take footage up her skirt, he kicked away the phone and then, when the man ran, tackled him in the parking lot. Then the dad called the police and got a photo of the man’s license plate number as he drove away. The man was later arrested for “invasion of privacy.”

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Street Harasser in Los Angeles Shot a Woman at a Bus Stop

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Last night two teenage girls were at the Pico-Union bus stop when two men pulled up and the driver started “flirting” with the girls (according to My News LA). However, I’m quite certain they were harassing and perhaps even threatening them because one of the girls called her mother. The mother confronted the driver, who shot her twice in the lower abdomen and also shot one of the girls in the leg. They both had stable signs when taken to the hospital and the suspect has not been caught yet.

Street harassment IS serious and the feelings of entitlement that can go along with it are dangerous. This is not flirting (consensual) or a compliment. This is harassment, it’s predatory, and it can escalate quickly.

I wish the woman & teenager a speedy recovery.

H/t Soraya Chemaly

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Winning a Stand Off vs a Harasser

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Several years ago, I was walking to a meet and friend, and a young man (early to mid 20s) slowed down a made a vulguar remark, circled around the block and parked his car to watch me cross the street of an intersection. Without making eye contact, I crossed the street. Once I made it to the next block, he called out “hey”. I looked backed and said “no”, in a calm voice. This went on twice. After the third time, he proceeded to curse at me and called me a “stupid bitch” several times and threatened to “beat my ass if I ever came around his neighborhood again”.

I stopped right there and turned around and gave him the “OK” sign and told him to come on and do it. So we had a strange quiet stare-off for about 15 seconds, with him looking extremely shocked and confused that I wasn’t rattled by his threats. He finally sped off in a huff.

– anonymous

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

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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Lexington, MA, Truck Driver

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I was in Lexington, MA, for a job interview, and I was early enough to get a bite to eat at the local McDonald’s. I opted to eat in my car, engine off, doors locked. It was the middle of the day, not late at all.

As I was eating, I noticed a white or Hispanic man across the parking lot, standing next to a big, white distribution truck, and he was staring at me intently. I looked away but kept my attention on him to be careful.

After a few minutes, he started to call to me with ‘hey’ over and over again. He just stared and motioned to me to come out of my car. I didn’t. I decided I was tired of him, and drove out of the parking lot.

As I stopped at the red light, I noticed the white truck exiting the parking lot as well, and coming straight for me. I dashed off into the road I needed, and hid myself down an obscure street to avoid being found. Thankfully I did not see him again, but I can say that I was extremely shaken up about the entire thing and wanted to cry. I felt so helpless and trapped in my own car.

– J.L.

Location: Lexington, MA

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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