LASH Campaign Archives | Stop Street Harassment

Ken Livingstone, London mayoral candidate, takes on street harassment

September 29, 2010 By HKearl

This has been a big month for the London Anti Street Harassment (LASH) Campaign! In early September, they met with 2012 London Mayoral candidate Oona King and after the meeting, King agreed to make street harassment one of her campaign platforms!

This week LASH sent a letter to London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone, and now he has agreed to also add street harassment to his campaign agenda! He wrote,

“I am concerned about street harassment of women and believe there is far more we need to do to tackle this problem.

I believe we should consider tougher deterrents and punishments to tackle this crime. We also need to provide far greater support for the victims of street harassment and other crimes.

This is an issue that needs to be taken more seriously, not just by the police but our schools, parents and the wider community.

It is essential that we send a clear message that street harassment of women is wrong and will not be tolerated.”

What amazing work by LASH Campaign founder Vicky Simister!! She’s a great role model for activists everywhere who want their political leaders to take this issue seriously.

This month, Vicky has also generated lots of great discussions about street harassment via appearances on the Mumsnet radio show, BBC radio 5, BBC London radio 94.5, and BBC Woman’s Hour. Keep it up!!

London Mayoral candidate takes on street harassment

September 7, 2010 By HKearl

Around the world, street harassment is not taken seriously by politicians, governments, and society at large. But that finally may be changing.

Vicky Simister, founder of the London Anti-Street Harassment Campaign, has been pushing politicians in London to acknowledge and address street harassment. In the few months since she launched the campaign, she’s received political support from local London politicians Diane Abbott and Keith Angus. This good news gets even better.

Today Simister announced that Oona King, a London mayoral candidate for 2012, has promised to make street harassment one of her campaign issues. Simister wrote that King, “will commission police reports on street harassment, ensure local authorities recognize it as a form if violence against women, establish police ‘best practices’, coordinate a poster campaign and more!” (Read the full statement)

This is truly amazing and completely unprecedented! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Simister and King for taking real measures to make London free from street harassment and for raising awareness around the globe that this is a serious issue that deserves serious attention.

Weekly Round Up: August 22, 2010

August 22, 2010 By HKearl

Story Submissions Recap:

I accept street harassment submissions from anywhere in the world. Share your story!

Stop Street Harassment Blog: 5 stories from people in Alberta, Canada; Baltimore, MD; Isle of Wight, UK; Delhi, India; and Leeds, UK.
HollaBack DC!: 2 new stories
HollaBack NYC: 3 new stories
HollaBackLDN: 14 new stories
HollaBack UK: 1 new story

In the News, On the Blogs:

Washington Post, “Man accused of spraying semen led a normal life“
Christian Science Monitor, “Sexual harassment in Egypt: Why men blame women“
AFP, “Indonesian railway launches women-only carriages“
Guardian, “Record and ridicule: Female cyclists expose sexist idiots online“
Washington Blade, “Transwoman sexually assaulted near Dupont Circle“
Guardian, “The end of street harassment”
Ms. Blog, “Stop Hitting on Me“
My Fault, I’m Female, “Your Friend, the Street Harasser“
700 Stories, “Start Your Day With Street Harassment!“
Newsjiffy, “Holla back to end sexual harassment“

Events:

Sept. 2: Stop Street Harassment Book Release Event in Washington, D.C.
Sept 10: Stop Street Harassment Book Release Event in NYC
Sept. 16: “Hey, You, Can I Get a Smile?” One-Woman Show, NYC

Announcements:

Vote for HollaBack DC! in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge
Vote for HollaBack NYC in the Paperless Choice Digital Fundraising Challenge
HollaBack NYC is looking for interns
RightRides is looking for interns
Call for Artists: Women and Mobility in the City Exhibition (via Jagori)
RightRides is looking for volunteers in NYC
The book Stop Street Harassment is out in August. Pre-order it today!

10 Tweets from the Week:

iHollaback Street harassment always makes me feel weak. I’m strong! So are you. Hollaback at ihollaback.org
Deodorina say #NO to street harassment.
feministpundit Amazing! Who knew street harassment could be responsible for a 21st century feminist awakening?
c_quigley difference between a genuine compliment and street harassment.Sometimes ppl really being nice-we should support that!
lorenacupcake Creepster honked at me, pulled over, & gestured me in closer like a park pedophile. I yelled “NO!” and mashed, terrified. #streetharassment
love4duke7blue do i attract creepers? just had a catcall from a pickup truck on the strip…#seriously
manhattanspeak and #truestory: ive been in heated arguments w ex-boyfriend about “not minding” street harassment.
UK_Feminista The movement to stop street harassment is growing fast: http://is.gd/evZ6s
feministpundit @iHollaback ending street harassment is a project for feminists of all ages… and it is an achievable goal. Win-win!
christ_in_a_fox Campaigning to stop street harassment, yes please! http://gu.com/p/2j6v9/tw

Resource of the Week:

London Anti-Street Harassment Campaign – They’re getting great press and doing a lot to raise awareness about street harassment and the need to end it!