On November 7, 2013, the second-ever city council hearing on street harassment was held in Philadelphia! The first was held in 2010 in New York City.
This hearing came about because Council Member James Kenney read tweets by Hollaback! Philly about street harassment, researched the issue and he decided he wanted to address it. When he reached out to Hollaback! Philly over Twitter to ask what he could do, Hollaback! Philly’s director Rochelle Keyhan requested a city council hearing.
During the morning hearing in Philadelphia’s City Hall, nine people testified and Rochelle played a video of teenage girls sharing their stories, since they couldn’t attend due to school. Most people courageously and passionately shared their street harassment stories during their testimonies, Rochelle presented Hollaback! Philly’s new survey data.
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An excerpt of Kenney’s remarks. |
An excerpt of Keyhan’s remarks. |
The main ask of the City Council was to help Hollaback! Philly organize community safety audits, a type of action created by METRAC, which the United Nations uses around the world. Hollaback! Philly needs help from the City Council in connecting with diverse community groups and churches in neighborhoods throughout the city to ensure that volunteers conducting the audit come from a range of backgrounds and perspectives.
The four male city council members who listened were very sympathetic and strongly against the issue. This is HUGE progress. They were also interested in seeing the issue brought up to kids in schools and working with police officers to train them to know how to help with street harassment incidents.
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Nuala Cabral, FAAN Mail and SSH Board MemberWritten Testimony |
Jordan Gwendolyn DavisWritten Testimony |
| Katie Monroe, Women Bike PHL Written Testimony |
Sarah MM Written Testimony |
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Karenina Wolff |
Avalon Clare |
Holly Kearl, SSH Written Testimony |
Anna Kegler, Hollaback! Philly |
| Domonique Williams * Was unable to attend Written Testimony |
Timaree Schmit, Sexuality Educator |
