Over the past few days, some commenters have left comments about harassment they have received and used really derogatory, racialized language about their harassers. We acknowledge that survivors heal in different ways, and one of those ways is releasing their anger in the form of racist epithets. We also allow commenters and those submitting stories to use race, but you must make sure its relevance is explained clearly and constructively in your post. Although there are safe spaces for survivors to do that, we do not accept racism here at Holla Back DC!

We make that clear through our anti-racism policy that explains our reasoning.

Initiatives combating various forms of sexual harassment and assault have continually struggled against the perpetuation of racist stereotypes, in particular the construction of men of color as sexual predators.

Those who perpetrate sexual violence in all forms come in ALL shades and sizes. Violence doesn’t discriminate.

We are not here to lecture you on racism. Although some people believe we are living in a post-racial society, many of us do not see it that way. Racism continues to permeate through our legal system, our social fabric, our everyday occurrences. Regardless of how you feel about the person hollering back, it is not a cultural norm in that racial/ethnic community. No. Patriarchy is a cultural norm in all communities, all countries, and is a strongly held global “value.” This site, among others combating gender based public sexual harassment, is built to help break down that system through continued acts of activism, education, prevention, and building a community from dialogue and support.