DC, you ready for one week of activities for International Anti-Street Harassment Week?
Download the flier, post up on every street corner, and let’s show DC we are ready to create safe spaces for everyone everywhere.
On the eve of International Women’s Day (ahem, yesterday), we met with Council Member Bowser and WMATA in two separate meetings. It was a day of follow-up meetings. We were interested to know if CM Bowser had heard back from WMATA. We were also curious as to what, if anything, WMATA was planning on doing to address our concerns about public sexual harassment and assault on the transit system.
CM Bowser expressed her commitment to push WMATA to do something, at minimum the public service awareness campaign and trainings. We talked to her about our concerns about the gap in law where in DC police (not true in MD/VA) have to see someone committing a misdemeanor to arrest them. This affects individuals who report indecent exposure, public masturbation, etc. Unless the cops see it, nothing can happen. Even if the person took a picture of the perpetrator in action. It’s essentially a free pass to perpetrators: Come to DC! Yikes. CM Bowser wants to address this issue and is figuring out ways to do so.
After that meeting, we had a lunch break. Thank goodness of the great weather yesterday that kept us company.
As we walked over the WMATA headquarters for our 2P meeting, we kept wondering outloud what WMATA would share with us. We were escorted to a conference room where some Senior level WMATA officials were sitting including Lynn Bowersox (Director of Communications), Dan Stessel (Chief Spokesperson), Regina Sullivan (Director of Government Relations), Michael Taborn (Chief of Transit Police), and others.
After an hour and half, we walked away with WMATA pledging to do a public service awareness campaign, launching as soon as April, technology upgrades to include a webportal for individuals to submit their experiences with harassment and assault, a newly dedicated email address on this issue (where people can upload pics/video), new trainings to ALL staff, and quarterly data reports on harassment and sex crimes.
Yeah, you read that correctly.
A PSA.
Data collection on harassment and sex crimes.
A dedicated email address and webportal (and specialized hashtag and possibly other techie things).
More & better trainings.
YEAH. yeah. yeAH!
You did it. Your tenacity to share stories of harassment and assault everywhere, including those that happen on the metro, is creating a culture of change in the nation’s 2nd largest transit system. That is big, really boombastic B.I.G.
Of course, our work isn’t done (this is not a Mission Accomplished moment). They have to launch it. It has to succeed. But, instead of being critical, let’s pause and celebrate this first step.
Have a glass of wine, bubbly water, beer or two in celebration of this on International Women’s Day.
In solidarity,
Chai, your humble servant.
P.S. Feel moved and want to get involved? Shoot us an email at info at collectiveactiondc.org.
After swinging from the overhead bars (front to back of the car on the redline), guy cornered me in a seat behind partition glass. As I tried to leave the seat, he physically blocked me and pushed me back into the seat. After punching, kicking, and cursing at him, he finally let me out of the seat. As I stood at the door, he whispered “dirty, filthy whore” in my ear until the doors opened and I got off the train at Silver Spring. I reported the incident to the officer at Silver Spring the station and he ran upstairs to try to catch the train, but of course, it’d taken off. I should have pressed the emergency button on the train (or someone else who was witnessing this should have), but I didn’t think of that until later.
Submitted by anonymous
Location: Redline train (between Rhode Island and SS stations)
Time of harassment: Evening Rush Hour (3:30P-7:30P)
Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault you would like to submit? Just click here and fill out the online submission form. All submissions are posted anonymously unless you specify.
During rush hour on a packed train a man started rubbing himself on me. It took me a while to realize what was going on because I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt since we were packed into the Metro like sardines. But, every time that I moved away, he moved closer to me and kept rubbing himself on me. As soon as I realized what was happening I turned around and told him to stop. It took him by surprise and he did stop. I thought I had nipped the situation in the butt and decided not to report it because I didn’t think I would ever see this man again. This was about 2 weeks ago. Yesterday, he showed up on the Metro behind me again. I thought it was coincidence, but I turned around and looked him in the eye to make sure that he wouldn’t touch me again. He seemed nervous and did not touch me. But, he showed up behind me on the Metro again today. I became convinced that he is following me and I told Metro Police at the Pentagon. They advised me to tell the Metro Police tomorrow before I get on the train and they could have an undercover officer ride with me in case this man shows up again.
Submitted by HK
Location: Yellow Line b/w National Archives and Pentagon Stations
Time of harassment: Evening Rush Hour (3:30P-7:30P)
Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault you would like to submit? Just click here and fill out the online submission form. All submissions are posted anonymously unless you specify.
March is HERE. Know what that means, right?
It’s Public Transit Awareness month!
Well, we’ve actually did some pre-celebrations with the testimony in front of DC City Council, followed by a round of media coverage of public sexual harassment and assault.
In the coming weeks and days, we will be sharing statistics, action items, and events commemorating this month.
Want to get involved? Fill out this handy dandy volunteer form.
P.S. “Getting home safely should not be a luxury.” That’s the motto of Right Rides, a program in NYC that provides free & safe rides to women and LGBTQ individuals. DC also needs alternative transportation options. Let’s make Right Rides DC a reality. Donate and spread the gospel. We need to raise at least $10,000 by May 1.
