Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“Stop yelling at random girls.”

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I went to prom as a sophomore. It was at the Wax Museum on Hollywood Boulevard. I was leaving at the end of the night with my boyfriend and his parents and a man who was either drunk or on drugs started yelling to me about how beautiful I looked, he called me princess and “Belle.” (My dress was yellow) I was flattered for a second and then he kept yelling and it got uncomfortable. I was kinda confused about why he was yelling at me. My boyfriend’s mom went into “mama bear” mode and said, “Have a good night sir,” to finally make him stop.

Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?

Stop yelling at random girls.

– AMC

Location: Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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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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“I was first catcalled when I was in 3rd grade”

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I am currently 13– Catcalling doesn’t happen much since I don’t walk places very much and I only go to school and back by a school bus.

I was first catcalled when I was in 3rd grade. I didn’t know what catcalling was so I thought it was just some idiot calling out to me from the safety of their car.

I continuously get called out to when I do walk uptown where I live.

I would be taking a walk just to get out of the house and I would be minding my own business when some older men think its ok to say “I’d love to beat that ass” and other inappropriate and unpleasant comments.

I know I don’t look but that definitely doesn’t mean when I’m walking down the street that  I’m giving you the right to say what you’d wish to do to a 13 year old girl and make her boyfriend punch holes in his wall because you can’t control your own mouth. Be a man, grow up.

I would say making it illegal to catcall, if it’s not a law already. If it is a law, we need to have stricter punishments.

— Bonnie “Dashe” C.

Location:

Greenwood, South Carolina, United States, Main Street

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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“Change the cultural response to harassment “

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I was 14 years old, walking on a downtown Dallas street, when a man walking in front of me suddenly turned and grabbed my breast and just as quickly let go and kept on walking away.

Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

We need to change the cultural response to the harassment of women.

– Jane

Location:

Near the YWCA in downtown Dallas, Texas

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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“I glanced behind me, only to see him reaching out to grab me.”

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I was on a quick run in a safe area, in front of a government building. That’s when I saw this scary, middle aged man come out of his house.

As I jogged past the area he tried to speak to me. But because of the vibe I got, I said, “Sorry I don’t understand what you said.” But I did.

He was asking how old I was is his own way, “How many years?”

He stared at me and smiled with his yellow teeth.

I started to run faster and called my grandmother, hoping hat being on the phone would deter him. Instead, he got on a bike and pedaled after me.

My grandmother got disconnected and I glanced behind me, only to see him reaching out to grab me. I ducked away from him and screamed, and ran onto the street, almost being hit by a car.

He kept riding past me, and turned around. I ran into a store and called my mom to pick me up. I was only 16.

– Anonymous

Location: New Jersey

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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