Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“Never Wanted to Be A Princess”

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Saturday, Nov. 21st around 4 p.m. near City Hall in NYC, I got out of the subway and was running late to meet my boyfriend. A couple of men passed me and one said, “You have a nice holiday now!” (which while weird, isn’t so bad) as I passed him he followed up with, “I think you look like a princess.”

Around the corner and a completely different man pushing a hand truck of produce goes, “Heeeeey sweetie!”

Made me feel like I must have been wearing something inappropriate/overly revealing to receive so much attention. I hate that I internalize it like that.

– ML

Location: New York City

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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Harassment at SoHo

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I’m a street artist. I went to my spot to show my art around 8 am last Sunday 10-11-09 at West Broadway and Spring St in SOHO.

This man was waiting for me, and he comes and sits next to my spot and starts to kick my handtrack, and i say don’t touch my stuff, and he says, “YOU DONT UNDERSTAIND I DONT WANT YOU HERE!!! PROSTITUTE, PUTA, UGLY, OLDER, LOSER YOU ARE 40 YEARS OLD AND COME HERE TO SELL YOUR CHEAP ART, I WANTS TO DELETE YOUR TEETH, I’M NOT PLAYING!!! AND WE WILL SEE WHO IS MORE STRONG!!!”

I asked what is his problem and he says, “I JUST DONT LIKE YOU!!!”

And I say, “The world has plenty of things that we like and we dont like and you need to learn to live with that.”

After that he pushed me and punched on my face and ran. I said to stop and people heard and so he ran. I called the police and they come. People talked to the police about what they saw, but nobody saw when he was punched me. I dont have marks or blood.

So he was back 2 hours later to his spot like nothing had happened, and many people called the police, including me, and 5 cars come. Nobody asked him for ID, they just removed him to the next block….he cam back agan to his spot to intimidate me and said “i will be here next weekend”….

I don’t know what i can do, just leave there? I don’t go out because he is around, or he knows I’m alone, maybe he will wait for me again? i dont know…

– anonymous

Location: New York City

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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Called to since puberty

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I live in New York City, so I’ve been called to by weirdos since I’ve hit puberty. I recently started to attend The City College of New York up on 138th street. I have to take the subway in order to get home from school. Last week when I was about to enter the subway, a man looked me over and said:

“Hey, gorgeous”

I just raised my eyebrows at him as if to say “yea right.”

He got angry and started following me into the subway station saying something along the lines of “I thought I was cute but I guess I’m not cute enough for you.”

He stopped once I swiped my metrocard and got onto the train platform but I was nonetheless disturbed the entire ride home.

– 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.

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Celebrating FIVE YEARS of building safer communities

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I’m happy to pass along news about an exciting milestone and celebratory event for my NYC friends RightRides. RightRides offers LGBTQ folks and women safe, free rides home Friday & Saturday nights. Co-founder and executive director Oraia Reid says,

“We’ve reached incredible milestones this year – 2,000 safe rides home and five years of service!…RightRides is made possible thanks to over 150 driving team and dispatching volunteers, our vehicle sponsor Zipcar and the generosity of supporters like you! Please celebrate with us at the Friends of RightRides Social!”

Friends of RightRides Social

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
Anthony Lawrence–Belfair Showroom
53 West 23rd Street, 9th Floor
New York, New York
6 – 9 p.m.

Roaring ’20’s and 30’s swing music provided by Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra. Hors d’oeuvres will be served plus complimentary wine and spirits from St-Germain, Smirnoff, Tanqueray, Admiral Imports. There will be a silent auction, awards ceremony, VIP special reception and more! Semi-formal or business attire requested.

With the Distinguished Defender Awards honoring:

Joanne Smith, Executive Director & Founder,
Girls for Gender Equity

Sonia Ossorio, President,
New York City Chapter, National Organization for Women

2 RightRides Volunteers (to be announced)

Tickets

  • $125 VIP ticket rate, includes private event reception, drink specials, incredible gift bags and more!
  • $50 general admission ticket offered until Tuesday, September 15th $75 thereafter and at door
  • Are you a RightRides volunteer? You receive complimentary admission and can bring a guest for a discounted ticket rate. Are you a student or do you work in the non profit sector? We can offer you a discounted ticket rate too. Please contact us for more info!

All funds raised directly support RightRides, offering women and LGBTQ individuals a free, late night ride home to address gender-based assault. $15 of every ticket is non-deductible. For every general admission ticket sold, RightRides can provide 5 safe rides home. Thank you for your support. Thank you to our Supreme Supporter Sponsor Citi Community Relations and our Progressive Protector Sponsor Zipcar.

Learn more or purchase tickets

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Multi-culturalism vs Universal Respect for Women

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I had recently moved into an immigrant neighborhood in NYC. I was excited about moving to this neighborhood because I love the diversity of immigrant cultures. I have always wanted to live in a multi-cultural society that respects the differences certain people’s backgrounds. However, after a few months I have drawn a different conclusion.

Unfortunately, I was harassed by Hispanic men on a daily basis. I suffered hissing, sucking noises, and even physical touching every day often more than once. I was not harassed by the Chinese, Polish, or African immigrants who also lived in this neighborhood.

I despise racism and think it would be wrong to say that all Hispanic men harass women. I know it is only a small percentage of them who harass women. I also met many wonderful Hispanic men.

However, I have learned that sexual harassment is more socially acceptable in Latin America. I have also learned that Latin American women from some countries are taught to be much more careful about walking alone, and dressing modestly to counter balance harassment.

I think it is incredibly important that Hispanic men are taught that this part of their cultural heritage is not acceptable in the United States. If we deny that certain cultures have a higher incidence of sexual harassment because of their machismo cultural norms than we will put political correctness above the rights of women. I think we need a movement to educate new citizens about respect for women.

– anonymous

Location: New York City

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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