Ejaculation Station

Well this event occurred when I was going home at Brooklyn, on the F train. This was relatively early, around 8pm, from Queens to Manhattan. I stepped into a car where I didn't notice any females on the train at all. Thinking nothing of it, I went and found a seat. Then I saw this man, and he said something to me. I didn't know what he was talking about and I ignored him. But apparently he felt safe and justified about something.. for he then unzipped his pants to take out his private part to start masturbating and panting. It was pretty gross and somehow because of my past with men and perhaps cultural upbringing, I didn't say anything... I became very still and mortified.

It was a long train ride.. and at the next stop, there were one or two females that got boarded the car, he stopped, but as the train moved again, he began again until I believe he actually ejaculated. I was wondering, why didn't anyone say anything.. did they not see... ? I truly regretted not screaming or doing anything. When the train finally reached Manhattan, I quickly got off the train, but my throat felt so clogged up and I couldn't say anything at all. However, I was pretty pissed off and scared that rest of the ride home. As a result up to now, I don't get on the F train as readily as I did before. I truly wished I did something.. but I didn't, so I am sorry to say I let this fucking pervert get away.

Sumbitted by Linda

Not Very Festive

Christmas Eve, not even on the Eve of our Lords Birth do sickos have any respect, as I walked my dog this morning at 6:30am in my Bronx neighborhood with a Christian church and mosque down the street I find my self in disgust to look over and find a man with his pants down to his ankles jerking off under a street lamp that lights up the whole street so it's like daylight, what kind of person decides that 6:30 am in any neighborhood in from of dozens of homes is a good time to jerk off ONLY A SICK MAN, as I see him I yelled and said ..you have got to be kidding , I'm calling the cops just as fast he picked up his pants and said he was sorry he did not know I was standing there.. you idiot should it matter weather I'm standing there or not..my daughter walks out of our house at that time for school so now I have to worry that she will encounter this sick minded person . I grew up in the worst parts of the Bronx when I was a kid the bums of the neighborhood would walk me to school and back, those times were safe. I wish those times were still here.

Submitted by Annette

Crotch Grabbing E-Perv

First time he got me was back in 9/05. Just another morning on the train or so I thought, but alas this was no ordinary train ride. Shortly after the train left the station I felt this little creepers hand on my crotch. It was still summer and I was wearing a skirt. It was a rather rude awakening to say the very least. I made a huge scene and proceeded to punch him in the head and he just ran out of the train at the 53rd St. and Lexington Ave. stop.

After that I would see him on the train from time to time or in my stop waiting for the train. Every time I'd see him I'd stare him down or sometimes I'd go so far as to antagonize him and tell him I was watching him. During these chance encounters I had the opportunity to observe his "perv-technique". He turns his back on his victims, cups his hand, and reaches it out behind him. I have been coming into work a little later for the past couple of months so I had not seen in him in a while.

Last Thursday 12/13, I squeezed into a very crowded Manhattan bound E-train and the doors closed behind me. Soon after the train left the station I felt a rather strange sensation in my nether regions. Someone was grabbing a hold of my crotch and holding on for dear life. Now initially I thought to myself; "This is a very crowded train, maybe it's an accident? Where in the world is this hand coming from". There was a man with his back turned directly in front of me and a woman to his right facing me. I proceeded to move said hand away and the individual forcefully put it back on my crotch. This is when I brought my magazine up as a buffer between me and this perverts filthy paws and I tapped the man on the shoulder and said "what are you doing?" Man ignored and moved his hand and himself away from me and that's when it hit me. I recognized that iron grip and I proceeded to make a huge scene and told the guy to stop touching me and told him I was going to report him to the police. I must've screamed at him for 3 stops. Eventually he got off the train.

As soon as I got off the train on West 4th I approached an officer and explained what had just transpired and he was just "like there's nothing that can be done". Later, when I got to work, my co-worker suggested I call 311 and they forwarded me to 911. Two police officers were dispatched to my office. When they arrived my boss escorted them to our conference room and said he would come and get me. The officer's told my boss they "couldn't wait". When I came into the conference room I told the officers the story and showed them the picture I had snapped with my camera-phone. One of the officers asked me if I had a gun and when I said I didn't, he suggested I "get one". They offered some tips in case I encounter him again in the future. They didn't take a statement and just told me to report it to the transit hub. I obtained the number for the transit hub and called and left a message and I still have not heard back from anyone.

No one on the train did anything to stop this guy. While I realize this man fondling me on the train is not the end of the world, I just feel like enough is enough. This is the second time this has happened in a 2 year span, and I am fairly certain I am not his only victim. At least, I can stand up for myself but I shudder to think what if I had been a young girl? I feel like the attitude I get from law enforcement, that are supposed to protect us is, to "just get over it." I'll get over it alright.. when I mace the shit out of him next time I see him. So ladies, if you see this man on the train watch your crotch!

Submitted by Verde

Nudy Snoozy

Once again, harassment through pornography on public transport (UK). I had the pleasure of sitting opposite this weirdo on the 17.45 from Manchester Piccadilly all the way to London Euston.

When he first got out his 'men's magazine', the train was packed, but despite this he started 'reading' it completely shamelessly. Luckily I didn't see much of what he was doing because I was coming back from a busy day of meetings and was working on my laptop, so the screen was covering my view of his magazine. I felt insulted and violated though that somehow it's accepted for men to view 'soft' pornography in public, and I didn't feel comfortable to say anything. So I got out my phone and took some pictures. It proved a bit tricky because unless he was staring at me (yes, he did that too) or drinking, he had his head buried in the magazine, but I still got a few good snaps. I didn't try to hide the fact that I was taking pictures (holding the phone up, moving my laptop screen out of the way), so maybe I made him feel a little uncomfortable too! Towards the end of the journey (after 1 1/2 hours, having studied every single page) he had finished with the magazine and fell asleep... and started snoring! I couldn't help thinking: What a great lover this guy must be!!

Submitted by Tanja

F stands for FREAK

EW! I was on the F train sitting with my boyfriend and reading a book, and a guy in a cargo jacket was standing across from me with his arms crossed. When we arrived at our stop, I put my book away and saw the man holding a small camera aimed at me with his arms still crossed, and as I got closer to him to leave the train, I saw the lens retract into the body of the camera, and he tucked it away in one of his cargo pockets. I felt victimized, violated, and STUPID. But thankfully I was wearing a skort with tights. I wish I'd wrestled the camera out of his hand or said something to him but I felt so scared and didn't want to make a scene. I should have taken a picture but I froze.

Submitted by Jessica

It's beginning to look a lot like... PERVS.

I'm only 14, and I get harassed every single day. I don't dress a certain way at all, or anything, and I look my age, so why are older men so gross?

Ugh.

I was walking with one of my friends, when we pass this weird looking guy, who was handing out flyers. He had to be like, in his late 20's. My friend and I are 14 and 16. We ignored him, and kept walking, since we didn't want any stupid flyer, but he FOLLOWS us, and keeps poking me in the shoulder with the papers he's handing out. Then he grabs my friend's shoulder to try and stop her, and she quickly jerked away. I wasn't really thinking, so I tried to take one of the flyers so he would go away, but when I grabbed the paper, he didn't let go, instead he tried to grab my arm and pull me toward him. My friend didn't know I was behind, so she kept walking. I was so terrified, frozen, and he wouldn't let go of me! Finally I pulled away, and caught up with my friend, and I told her what happened, and she was shocked, and said she had no clue and that she thought I was behind her. She kept saying it was her fault because she kept walking, but I said, "No, it was that sick pervert's fault."

A few months before, I remember getting a phone call from my other friend, who is a bit younger than me. She was 13 at the time, and I had just turned 14. She called my house, crying, and I was scared. She told me she was at the bookstore, and some older man sat next to her, and tried to talk to her, and was hitting on her. She said he kept asking for her phone number, and he wouldn't stop, so she gave it to him so he'd stop. She said that he was calling her house now. A week later, I went to the same books store, and sat down to read. A man came over to me and asked me if I knew the time. There were other people around me, so that's all he said at first. I shook my head no, and he alked away, but kept walking back and forth in the area I was in until everyone around me left. Then he crouched down next to me, took a book from the shelf, and sat right next to me pretending to read it. This sick-o kept scooting closer and closer to me, and then started asking me personal questions like where I live. I tried to ignore him, but he kept asking me, so I gave him fake answers, and a fake name. He kept bothering me, and eventually I ran away because he didn't leave. A few weeks later I came back and saw him bothering a girl who looked to be about 10.

Submitted by Ali

Pervs with Cell Phones go up Ladies Skirts

This is a bit of a public service announcement to any women who ride the train in New York:

This morning on my way to work on the C train a normal looking, unassuming guy took cell phone video footage up my skirt. I can only speculate about how much footage he got before two good Samaritans warned me. Needless to say the whole experience was completely unexpected, violating, victimizing, and sickening. Who knows what this sick pervert is going to do with the images? My friend said that this has been happening all around NYC - crowded trains, long lines in stores, even on the street. So if you're wearing a skirt - no matter what length (mine was knee length) - be aware of your surroundings.

Submitted by K

Halloween is Scary

I'm fourteen. On Halloween, I was walking across the street to my neighbor's house in my mermaid coustume. It isn't slutty at all. It's got a long tail, and a blue stomach-coverup.

Anyway, a trucker runs by me and screams something like: 'I'LL COME TO YOUR BED TONIGHT!'

I'm fucking creeped out now. No more Halloween parties for me.

Submitted by D

Williamsburg Hipster Caught Masturbating on the L

It was 915 AM on a Tuesday, and I was on my way to Williamsburg. I came down the stairs of the L train stop on 6th Ave, and a 25-ish, young, blond, shaggy, hipster was waiting on the platform. I walked to the middle of the cars, and he followed me. I didn't think much of it until both trains pulled up, and he didn't get on either one.

I sat down facing the platform, and he was staring at me with a disturbingly creepy look on his face. I couldn't figure out why he wasn't getting on either train, until I noticed he had taken his penis out of pants, and was masturbating, while staring at me. No one saw what he was doing, and I was too shocked to do anything. I didn't want to get off the train to report him, so when the doors closed, I gave him the finger....not very original, but I didn't know what else to do.

Unfortunately, I got no picture, and I haven't seen him since.

Submitted by Erica

Hollaback Backfires!

i was walking down the street near my house and this guy asks me if i want "a stick or a dick?" not even sure what that really means, but as i turned around to take his picture, he takes mine too! and really close up. i continue standing outside the supermarket finishing my cigarette before i go inside and he proceeds to show me the "beautiful picture." i grabbed his phone and tried to erase it, but he grabbed it back. i told him he was disgusting and he just smirked at me. he also had a picture of a girl with a huge ass in a thong as his phone screensaver. he obviously never had a mother.

Submitted by Rachel

Potbellied Masturbator

I got off the F train at 23 St and 6th avenue. he may have been on the train. im not sure but when i was on the corner, this sweaty greasy haired man wearing glasses about 50 years old in a tight grey t-shirt which displayed his belly, was staring at me at the light. i heard him say something juvenile like wow, wow nice tits. i looked right at him and with my eyes told him what a creepy,slimy loser he was. i chose to ignore his stares and walked on.when i got to park avenue, i was again at a light. i smelled something bad like b.o and this creepy looking freak had his hand in his pants right behind me and i could tell he was rubbing himself. this pathetic disgusting perverted had a bulge and was getting himself off by staring at me. nice ass he says. at this point, i had all i could take and was trying to find my cell phone. he continued to stare with his ugly grin but he disappeared from my sight while crossing the street, im sure there are other women he bothers. always be ready ladies when out on the street to catch these creeps by snapping a picture of them. keep it in hand. and please be aware of this pathetic dickless loser on 23 st.

Submitted by Sabrina

Perv in the Corner

This pervert rides the V, F, E lines and flashes and does disgusting things to both young girls and women. He likes to sit in the corner 2 seaters so as to be directly in front of his victim(s) when they are alone. He dyes his hair different shades, wears big glasses (as in photo) and likes to carry a large over-the-shoulder bag to conceal his perverted behavior. If you see him feel free to call him a pervert and intimidate him so that he gets off the train because the police can't do anything about him and unfortunately one cannot beat the crap out of him.

Submitted by Madeline

Starbucks Stalker

I usually don't notice guys that look. Hey I can appreciate a guy's looks too so I'll give them that much. If they say a thing to me then that's crossing the line.

I meet this guy over at Union Square. I was getting out of the subway and walking up the stairs when this guy right next to me on the staircase said something to me. I knew he was talking to me but I didn't hear, I was listening to my ipod. I ducked into a Starbucks to avoid him and he followed me in. I got on line thinking that he wouldn't dare follow me through Starbucks. Oh but he does, he walks in, walks out, stare at me through the window and walk in again to stand in line behind a couple behind me. I finally got to the front of the line and ordered, walked to the condiment table. I thought he left until he appeared right beside me empty handed and asked me "How are you?" I pretended not to hear. He asked it again. I looked
right at him pretending not to understand and he finally walked away.

I don't need to be asked "How are you?" by a complete stranger that look high on something. Girls be careful in Union Square. This guy doesn't seem to mind harassing or following a girl that is obviously underage. I do wish I got a picture but I didn't. He looked totally out of it, like he was stoned or drunk, but then he walked pretty normally for a drunk guy.

I don't need some stoned guy following me from a subway station, to a starbucks, through the line, to the condiment table just to ask me how I am. If this happens I'll be sure to have my cell phone in my hands.

Submitted by Daisy

Masturbation on 34th Street

Waiting for F/V train at 34th street and this freak runs down the stairs and hides behind the column and then I see why he has his gross penis out masturbating behind an AMNY paper! This was about 12 pm and the platform was not empty! There was an infant in a stroller nearby! I tried getting his face but another train came and he finally stopped. Beware ladies.

Submitted by Miss Alysia

Q train Masturbator

At around 9:45pm I got on the Q train's first/last stop at 57th Street heading to Brooklyn. The doors are all closed save for one at the end and only half of the double doors at that. This is normal. All the doors are opened just before the train leaves. It usually sits there for a while until another Q train pulls in. So I'm sitting in the car by myself next to the window reading a book when I hearing someone tapping on the window. I choose to ignore it because something tells me it is trouble. Well this person taps again and again and again. Finally I just turn my back towards the window and pretend to read because I'm nervous by now. What does this person want? The tapping persists until another guy walks in and I think this other person by my window will leave but the tapping continues.

Suddenly, all the doors open and my heart drops. A short sleepy-looking man holding a crumpled piece of newspaper in his hand walks in and sits right by me. I'm thinking that he's probably a homeless guy asking for money until he removes that piece of newspaper and shows me his penis, hanging out of his pants. Oh so this is why he was trying to get my attention. He makes sure that the other guy, sitting not too far away, doesn't see what he's doing by creating a "wall" with that newspaper. I can smell the alcohol on him and he acts so nonchalant, which feeds my anger and indignation.

A few years ago a man in an old Mustang stopped me on the pretense of asking for directions so that I could see him masturbating. When he drove off I remember feeling so disgusted and victimized that I resolved never to let that happen again.

Here was a guy exposing himself to me in a similar situation. So I decided to take action. I had read about women empowering themselves in situations like these by taking pictures of the perpetrator so that gave me strength. I move so that I am sitting directly across from him and took three photos with my cellphone. I then walk quickly out of the train and break into a run to find the train conductor. I find a woman operator and explain my situation. She says something about the police not being around when you need them. I walk with the woman and point out the man with the beret holding the newspaper, who had come out since I left and she suggests I move into her train car. Moments later she comes back in and speaks into the PA system that the next stop will be 42nd Street. The train starts to move and I wonder what happened to the creep. Did the police apprehend him? Then the train operator comes back out and tells me "Thanks miss, that guy didn't get on this train." I am baffled. Shouldn't more be done to stop him? I look out the window as the train pulls away and I see that same creep now sitting on a bench unbeknownst to the people around him.
All I can do is post on this blog for the whole world to see. Ladies, beware.

Submitted by Clara

and we never saw them again...

So I visit a girlfriend at her new job as an in-home nanny. We spend time together daily, at the gym, running errands, or just hanging out, before the kids get home from school. The house she's living in with this family is in a new residential area with houses still being built. One day I decided to stay late and walk up the top of the street to the bus stop with her to meet one of the children she takes care of, 7 years old, as she gets out of school.

We have dealt with them before, but daily we hear hooting and hollering at us from the male construction workers at the new houses anytime we step foot outside. It was cute at first; their feign attempts to draw our attention... But, when we went to pick up the 7 year old, that day, they decided it necessary to stop working and stare at us the whole way up and back to the bus stop- EVEN while we had the little one with us! I finally was fed up and turned around after another loud, "Hey mami!" from the group and barked, "GET BACK TO WORK!"

Suddenly, their supervisor pops out from the unfinished home across the street and yells at the men. We never saw them again.

Fortunately, I have a wonderful 12x zoom camera, and we spend lots of time outside with the kids.



Submitted by Kyle

KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!

I was on my way home on a very crowded #4 train. As the train pulls into the
86th train station, the man behind me creepily inches his way over to me.
Seconds later I feel something hard nudging me. I quickly whip around as the
train doors open and see him dashing out of the train car. The jerk's face
was blocked by other people on the platform but he could not easily hide the
bulge popping out from his sweatpants. This was sadly the SECOND time a
creep on the train had done this to me and yet strangely enough, I STILL
want his crotch to shrivel up and fall off. This is just not something you
get used to. So, to all the creeps out there, BE WARNED: the next time you
pull this shit, I will chase you down the platform and you will REGRET the
day you decided not to KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!

Submitted by Cathy D.

Get your own boobs

This guy was sitting next to me on the train and couldnt stop staring at my chest. I took the picture when he was sleeping.

Submitted by cell phone.

Everyone is on your side

I took the subway back and forth to high school for all four years. The ride each way was a little over an hour. I always found comfort in the anonymity of the subway and slept all the time during the ride. On the F train back home one day, I was holding on the to one of the poles above. It was extremely crowded and I could feel someone touch my butt. I saw his reflection on the window, against the black of the walls as the subway flew through the dark tunnels. I couldn't believe what was happening. I always thought that I would turn around the yell at the pervert if I ever found myself in that situation. I imagined myself slapping him in the face or kicking him in the balls. But what I ended up doing was feel extremely embarrassed. Questioning whether this was actually happening. What if this was a mistake? I would be so embarrassed if I called him out when he didn't do anything. I was so shocked. I just wanted to get to my stop and leave. I felt so dirty on the inside and out.

After it happened, it was hard at first to grasp the reality of it. I always kick myself for not standing up for myself. I regret it even more when I heard the same thing happen to my younger sister when she started going to the same high school.

My advice to all of you? Talk it out if it ever happened to you. If you do find yourself in that situation, remember that everyone is on your side. There is no doubt that what he is doing is unlawful. Kick him in the balls and let everyone know in the car who the pervert is so this won't happen to someone else you care about.

Submitted by Diana

Scott Stringer Gets it Right

HollabackNYC would like to induct Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer into the HOLLA-fame for issuing a ground breaking report about the prevalence of harassment on the New York City subways.

67% of folks who completed the survey were women, 33% were men. Key Findings include:

* 63 percent of respondents reported having been sexually harassed in the New York City subway system.

* 10 percent of respondents reported having been sexually assaulted in the New York City subway system.

* 69 percent of respondents reported having felt the threat of sexual assault or harassment in the New York City subway system.

* Of those respondents, 51 percent reported “sometimes” or “frequently” feeling the threat of sexual harassment or assault in the New York City subway system.

* 96 percent of respondents who indicated that they were sexually harassed did not contact the NYPD and/or the MTA to file a report or seek assistance.

* 86 percent of respondents who indicated that they were sexually assaulted did not contact the NYPD and/or the MTA to file a report or seek assistance.

For more information, click here.

Working Overtime

This delightful gentleman saw fit to shout “Hey Mami” at me as he was working at a construction site on Powers Street. Although I stopped and took his picture, it didn’t deter him from shouting the exact same thing to yet another woman a few seconds later. If this dude wants to win over the ladies, I’d recommend he clean up his attitude… and buy some pants that fucking FIT!

Submitted by Miss Heather

Hollaback from New Hampshire

in my city in manchester nh there seems to be a lot of men under the impression that any female outside is a prostitute. at any given day i could be seen wearing over sized tee shirts and jeans. nothing most people would consider sexy. any way i could be walking any where in my city and some guy i never met will stop his car, look at me, and ask if i'll get in his car. of course i refuse and they beg me. "oh please i'm so lonely." they say. "sorry, dude." i say and i'm gone. sometimes they leave, sometimes they follow. one jerk offered me 15 bucks.

a man called DJ gave me a helping hand. one of those random acts of kindness strangers do for one another. only he expected me to shirk my responsibilities to my child and my friend's child i was babysitting and have sex with him in return. he was down right offended when i refused, he had the gall to say that i was using him. this jerk insisted on helping me. oh i might point out that this jerk is married.

the problem is so big in this town that the police are actually cracking down on it. so i'm guessing dj's wife will find out sooner or later and divorce the hell out of him.

sorry i have no pictures of him. i don't have a camera phone. but if it helps he's overweight, middle aged and has short blond curly hair i believe his eyes were blue.

Submitted by B.L. new hampshire

Ten Year Old Harasser - I kid you not

I'm a pretty shy awkward teenager, and I'm 15 years old, and when men yell things at me, or honk at me or make kissy faces, it gets me mad but I don't do anything, but it gets me fuming mad. And only hours later do i think of funny things to embarass them for being such assholes. But most the time they get away with it.

BUT NOT TODAY! 8D

It's a simple summer afternoon. I'm out with my friends at borders, and across the street is a candy store. All the rest of my friends are being lazy, so my friend Lucas and I decide to go ahead.

So we do. It's been raining out, and I don't want to get my flip flops wet. Lucas, being the funny and nice person he is, offers to put them in his pocket so they don't. As he's doing so, 3 boys, wearing volcom stone tee shirts and *gag8 corduroy pants, in either the colors blue, purple (!!!), come up to us, and ask "Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?"

Simple and innocent question, right? So I turn to them and say "No, we're just friends! :)"

And their reaction is less than polite. They turn to my friend and say "DUDE! You have no game! YOu should be pounding her!"

"HEY!" I yell out. "Guys and girls can be perfectly good friends!"

"Not when his balls drop and your breasts get bigger!" He sneers

These boys are 10 years old. I don't know if they watch too much television, or have older brothers that can't keep their mouth shut, but...

10 YEAR OLD BOYS SHOULD NOT KNOW THIS STUFF!

This goes on for 5 minutes. I ask them to stop and they say "NO."

Finally, one boys yells "DUDE! Your mom is here to pick us up!"

The drop the whole conversation and run to the car. I follow them, go up to their mother's window and knock on it.

"Excuse me..." I begin. "Sorry to bother you, but I was with my friend and your son, or your friends son.. they all said some very inappropriate stuff to me..."

I was lucky. It was raining, and I had a shopping bag over my head to keep me dry. I had been so humiliated I was about to cry. But I was lucky. The woman was a nice gracious person, and a respectable mother too. Her reaction: Jaw dropping, eyes wide, eyebrows furrowing.

By now, the boys know what I am doing and they yell: "MOM! She's crazy! Don't listen to her!"

But woman are not as stupid as they think.

The woman turns to her son and 2 friends and yells "SAY SORRY TO HER ***NOW***!"

The leader says "OKAY! BYE!"

"I said, say sorry!"

"OKAY SORRY!"

"SAY SORRY!"

"I'M SORRY! THERE! HAPPY?!"

The woman turns to me and apoligizes. "I'm SO sorry! They're boys, its hormones... It doesn't excuse them.. I"M SO SORRY!"

I nod to the woman and say. "Thank you. SOrry I bothered you." Then I turn to the boys. "Sorry you're NOT sorry!" I run away.

Now, I enter borders again, wet, and about to cry, but I begin laughing, thinking "OHMIGOSH they are in sooooo much trouble!"

The end. And I give you a picture of a Corduroy Pervert, so you can identify any in your neighborhood or town.

Submitted by Connor (heck yes i'm a girl)

Not Subtle Enough

So I walk into my local staples in Brooklyn. As I walk past the copy area this balding perv looks at me and follows with head and eyeballs every step I make. I say lapfly "well that wasn't subtle enough d@@@"

I get what I need but as I'm looking it over he has the nerve to throw this weak comeback "if you didn't want to be stared at you shouldn't go outside". No jerk.

There's a difference between a glance and visually harrassing and undressing someone with your eyes. He then kept standing there saying he wasn't doing anything wrong and gesturing to the copy center.

I said I was going to report him and he smugs "how?". The power of blackberry my friend. That's how.

Women don't like to be harrassed and leered at. When will these prevs get that?

I Don't Need a Lesson on the Law...

I was on a very crowded and cramped 4 train heading home from work on a Monday evening. When we got to 14th Street/Union Square, this loud, obnoxious man, who reeked of alcohol, shoved his way onto the packed train with his friends. As they pushed their way in, they started spewing all of these ignorant statements and obscenities at everyone that was standing around them. Needless to say, the other passengers looked annoyed, embarrassed and very uncomfortable as he and his friends carried on.

Finally, an older woman that was standing next to him politely asked if he could tone down his language. Unfortunately, the main jerk directed his drunken wrath at her by telling her that he could say "whatever the fuck" he wanted to because it was a free country and he had his first amendment right to do so. The woman tried to calmly reason with him but he continued cursing and and said that she, as a white woman, had no right to talk to him. The woman finally just moved away while he continued shouting and laughing at her with his friends.

At that point, I was boiling mad and felt like I had to do something. That's when I took out my camera phone and started snapping this fool from behind (he's the one in the burgundy shirt). The women standing near me smiled and nodded approvingly.

Once the train reached Grand Central, a bunch of people got off but the jerk and his cronies stayed on, still shooting off at the mouth. I kept snapping as they turned around, wanting them to know what I was doing. When one of them saw me, he yelped, "Hey, you can't take my picture!" He started to lecture me on his rights when I flatly told him that I was a lawyer and I didn't need a lesson on the law.

He got quiet but not before the main jerk told him to leave me alone because I was a black woman and that I shouldn't be disrespected. Are you kidding me??? Then he had the nerve to try and "holla" at me by looking me up and down and telling me that I was the "queen of the Earth" but I just glared right at him. When he saw he didn't have a taker, he then asked to see my pictures on my phone but I flatly told him no.

Finally, the idiots got quiet and didn't say anymore to me or anyone else. At last, some peace and quiet! I got off at my stop and walked away feeling ten feet tall.

Submitted by Jaimee

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M is for ... Masturbation?

I got on the 8:20 Manhattan-bound M train Monday morning at the 4th Ave., 9th Street stop and was sitting down, reading the paper like I normally do. A few stops later, a man came on the train, and stood to the left of me next to the doors. I didn't pay close attention until I saw something in my periphery that was moving. I turned to the left and saw the man's penis sticking out while he rubbed it. He stared at me the entire time. I jumped up and shouted -- WHAT THE F--K ARE YOU DOING? The doors opened and he got out at the Dekalb stop, but stared at me through the doors as the train left the station.

I wish I had my camera out so I could take a picture and show it to the police. I've filed reports to the MTA and the police, but who knows if anything will be done. I really want this asshole caught.

Submitted by Kim

Pretty Pussy? You've got to be kidding me, man.

Harassment starts at home, it seems. I left my apartment early this afternoon, and walked only a few steps before a large man with a cell and a cigar started leering. He gave me the elevator eyes and said, "Niiiiiiiice legs. Why don't you walk that pretty pussy over here?"
I walked on, but he continued, "Oh, come on and don't be RUDE baby, you know I just think you sexy!"

Now, I've been putting up with street harassment for about 6 years. It runs the gamut from the mundane catcalls and the counterman's hand lingering just a bit too long and stroking just a bit too knowingly when returning my change, to the truly terrifying instances of being grabbed (five times in all, once by the hair), and the nauseating displays of public masturbation (I've caught SIX men masturbating to me on the train, so much for working nights). When I tell people about these instances they usually assume I am being too sensitive, that I'm exaggerating, or, worst of all, that I must be wearing or doing something to solicit this sort of behavior. I'd read about hollaback before but was always just a bit to embarrassed or scared to say or do anything myself.

But today, when I turned around and saw that big fat man with his big fat grin staring back at me, something just clicked (notable, my camera). I whipped it out and snapped his picture. He yelled, "What you takin' my picture for? Do you know me?" To which I responded, "What you talkin' 'bout my pussy for? Do you know me?"

As he turned tail in shame I hollered to him, "Check out hollabacknyc.blogspot.com, see your picture online!"

As I walked the 7 minutes from the train station to my front door last night, I counted seven men who said something inappropriate to me, me in my modest kindergarten teacher's attire (I didn't count the ones who just leered or gestured) -- that's one a minute. They're both perverse and pervasive, and must be stopped. I am not exaggerating and I'm not being too sensitive, and NOW I'm on a mission to collect the proof. Here he is, my number one, only a few thousand to go.

Submitted by Hannah

Wish I Could Go Back

When I was sixteen, I was extremely shy and definitely not nearly as loud as I should've been when needed be. After a day of Chinatowning, my friend Vanessa and I were heading home on the subway. She walked ahead of me further down the stairs and I took my sweet time. I remember because I was wearing boots and couldn't jog down as fast as her. I looked up and I saw this guy smiling at me. I didn't think anything of it so I smiled back and looked away, because the more he smiled the more it creeped me out. He stopped walking and I went past him, thinking absolutely nothing of it because for the most part he seemed like just a plain ol' friendly guy. I also had very little self esteem at the time and it hadn't even crossed my mind for a second that this guy could be "checking me out".

Well anyway, we made it inside the subway car and I sat down next to her. A moment later, that same guy sat down on the seats next to me. They were facing toward my seat, as my own were against the car wall, facing the opposite side. He said "hi", and I didn't answer because I was a little too freaked out that he still had that same smile. Then he edged slightly away from his seat and started to rub my leg. Vanessa didn't see it, and I didn't know what to do at all. I just stared at his hand, dumbfounded, wide eyes, scared as hell. Then he started rubbing his knee up and down my leg. I was wearing a skirt, a long black one, and he made it ride up to my knee. As soon as we reached our stop Vanessa and I got up and I bolted for the door. I turned around and he was following us, so I grabbed her hand and made a dash for it. She ran with me without asking questions thinking I was joking around, and we ran up the stairs until we made it back out onto the street and I couldn't see him anymore.

Thinking about this now, I wish I could just go back there and scream "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? GET THE FUCK OFF HER, SHE DOESN'T WANT YOU TOUCHING HER YOU SICK, SICK FUCK!". Sometimes when I'm walking in the subway, I wish I could see that guy (this was only two years ago) and just punch him in the face. I hate him so much.

Submitted by Kitty

War Zone

HollaBackNYC screened "War Zone" a while back with Lantern Books. Missed it? Here's a five minute clip.

Deacachimba!

Saturday's field investigations led to the shocking conclusions:

1.Patriarchy is still the foundation of our society

2.It sucks to be a woman in said society

To make a short story long, it began last week. My friend Glow, the child-prodigy photographer extraordinaire and I, decided to meet up and get all artsy together. The plan was to for me to slap on some draggish makeup, and flit around downtown Managua playing good photographer/crappy model. FUN. The first location (namely, in front of a white wall in my house) was a bit limited. "Egads", said I "A park would present a world of backdropsical possibilities!" So off we trot to the Parque Japonés. We got off to a fairly good start, and Glow got one or two really incredible shots until-

these pieces of shit started harrassing us. I believe they began to whistle, make kiss-y noises, and holler something about the effect of Glow's dress, or my top, or whatthefuckever. Being a dedicated, if mediocre model, I tried to avoid breaking concentration; hence my simple, but elegant response: I gave them the finger.

Bad idea.

The shouting became incessant. They started approaching us. We started to get very, very nervous. Now, I'm not so much a delicate flower as a holy terror in a mosh pit. But you can't overlook the fact we're still two 5' 0" teenagers with a backpack full of clothes, and they're grown-ass male fuckbags with a whole pack of grown-ass fuckbags behind them. This is the point where it's generally advisable to run.

Not today. Glow stood up and began screaming, along the lines of "WHY ARE YOU SEXUALLY HARRASSING ME?! I COULD BE YOUR DAUGHTER! WHY ARE YOU SEXUALLY HARRASSING ME?! WHY?! WE'RE JUST TRYING TO TAKE PICTURES! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!" Not to be outdone, I felt the need to add "WHY WON'T YOU LEAVE US ALONE?! THIS IS A PUBLIC PLACE! WE'RE MINORS! STOP SEXUALLY HARRASSING US!"

Well, that sort of did the trick. They turned and ran to the other basketball court, though not fast enough to escape Glow's lens. But best of all, not twenty seconds afterwards, two security guards came running up to us. After explaining the situation (much to their credit, they didn't scoff or dismiss verbal assault as a waste of time, like some policemen I know), they told us to be careful, and that they would be sitting nearby now, even if they couldn't kick them out of the park (why not, I still don't know). But by then we were too weirded out and scared to stay any longer. We thanked them and left.

But since male privilege does not pertain exclusively to gang-y fuckbags in parks, as a few blocks away, we were verbally assaulted by another pair of cockmonglers.



This time I walked close enough for them to hear me and asked why felt the need to say those things to us. Being cockmonglers of the weaselly breed, their Cockweasel-in-Chief came up with some smirky story of mistaking me for their niece.

Riiight.

So, that's the sad story of two girls who had the audacity of being young, female, and pedestrians, but more importantly, young female pedestrians with NO MALE CHAPERONE! The horror! They were asking for it!

Hmmm. At least we got some great pics out of it. Props to Glow, whose deviantart boasts some of the more succesful shots from the first two locations, and to the two security guards at the park: authority figures who deserve that responsibility. And as Glow said, "I bet those fucks have never been questioned by a girl in drag queen lashes before."


Submitted by Christiane in Nicaragua

Harassment at Penn State

A Ham On The Way to Eat my Nachos

At 12:05 p.m. today I was feeling a bit peckish so I headed over to Taco Bell to get some nachos. As I was crossing Manhattan Avenue (at India Street), I heard a man yell “Hey Mami”! Over and over.

I stopped and took his picture. Unlike most people I photograph, this asshole was hamming it up for the camera. Given that he was operating a commercial vehicle, it begs one to wonder what his employer would think of his conduct. I for one thought he was behaving in a decidedly UNprofessional manner.

Submitted by Miss H from www.newyorkshitty.com

I Whipped It Out (My Phone that is)

This morning around 9:45am on the local green line I sit down and bury my head in a book. I am wearing a hat with a brim since its been raining, which gives me a bit more cover to analyze what people are up to around me.. This guy sitting across the aisle is looking suspicious, leaning forward with a coat in his lap and a leer in his eye.

I go on reading, and glance up briefly and notice this guy has his cock out dangling under his coat and is jerking off while studying the lady sitting next to me. I can feel she is uncomfortable and so am I he's less than 4 feet away. I have never been in this situation- in broad daylight surrounded by people that are aware but not doing anything.

So I whip mine out..my phone that is- and snap a photo of this idiot. What upsets me more than this individual pleasuring himself in public is that no one else said or did anything! Thats the most unfortunate part to this story. There was a man who was down the bench from this
degenerate and I could tell he could tell what was going on- but he did nothing..he sat and looked a bit shocked.

After snapping this image I got off before my stop and went two or three cars over to find the conductor- I told him what was going on in the cars just a few down- he began radioing the police. I don't know if they caught the guy, I didn't wait to find out. I had to get to work, but at least I took action...why didn't anyone else???

Oh the humanity.

Submitted by Jordan

Another Jerk on the Sidewalk

Flabby Little Phalluses

I wasn't able to take a photo, but wanted to write about a recent experience of subway harassment anyway because, as they say, third time's a charm. I'm referring to the fact that I was recently confronted for the third time in the last decade with a passive aggressive pervert jerking off on the subway, and I finally reacted in a way that I feel good about.

More on that in a minute, but the first thing I want to mention is that each of the three asshats who felt it necessary to flog their flabby little phalluses on public transit were all different in terms of age (one in his early twenties, one seemed to be in his late thirties, and one seemed to be solidly middle-aged, has kids in high school range), geography (one was on the D train in Coney Island, one on the F train not far from Park Slope, and one on the MBTA in Boston) and ethnicity (two were white, one was a man of color), but despite their differences they each wore the exact same sickening, sweaty and totally smug, "what's getting me off is you being uncomfortable" stare as they groped themselves while trying to lock eyes with me. The smugness is what stood out the most each time -- as if what was sexually gratifying to them was women's inability to stop this harassment.

Anyway, when this happened again it took me totally by surprise, because while I often deal with street harassment whenever I'm in Manhattan and often in various parts of Brooklyn, I've almost never dealt with it in my neighborhood in Brooklyn. Here's what went down. I was standing at the bottom of the steps on the F train platform at 6:30, lots of other people on the platform but no one else near me at the bottom of the stairs. I heard someone from the top of the staircase call out, a "Psst" kind of sound. Instinct caused me to look up the stairs, where I saw a middle aged man beating off, smiling that same smug smirk I remembered from the last two guys I saw do this on subways. My initial five-seconds-after reaction was to instantly turn away, really startled, somewhat frightened and incredibly angry. After those five seconds, though, I realized that this guy had no power over me other than in his mind, and if I didn't react in a way that took my power back, I'd be mad about it all night, maybe longer. So, I turned back around, looked directly at him and screamed, "Fuck you, asshole! Who do you think wants to see that?" He froze, a fearful dear-in-the-headlights look passed over his face, and he dropped his dick as if it were all of a sudden burning his hand. A second later, he turned and ran away, while I screamed after him, "Yeah, you better run away! Run away like the sad, pathetic, small-penised pervert you are!"

I instantly felt better.

Submitted by Jennifer P.

Forgot your phone? Eat Mentos instead.

Iain and Dylan Save the Day from Cockweasels!

I was walking through town to get the bus, wearing dungarees, a Sonic the Hedgehog t-shirt and a pair of manky Converse, and some baldy 23-year-old dick went "Excuse me." I was deep in thoughts of Iain Banks and Dylan Moran:

(Iain)

(Dylan)

(at one and the same time! This is quite absorbing, and useful at work to make the day go faster...) and so looked at him vaguely and said "Whuh?" He made the universal gesture for "You have breasts and I am a cockweasel!" and said "You're a bit lopsided there!" I looked blank, my mind was (considerably) elsewhere. "Ah, yes. Thanks." I said, and wandered off. He looked disgruntled and his pal laughed like a monkey and poked him, and I and my dirty thoughts won the day.

To be honest I wish I'd said something scathing, but really, I was distracted.

Submitted by Susanna, Scotland

Media Alert: Hollaback on CurrentTV

Serious Question

As I was walking to school the other day, I had a little adventure...

A man accosted me on the street and started a conversation, which went like this:
Man: in his best sultry bedroom voice, "serious question."
Me: "what?"
Man: "has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?"
Me: "serious question."
Man: "what?"
Me: "has that ever worked for you?"

I walked off. He proceeded to follow me, calling me a "bitch," a "cunt" and so forth. He told me he just wanted to tell me how beautiful I am, I must be frigid, I must hate sex and, now, he's changed his mind and I'm ugly. I continue to ignore him and, finally, I see my chance--I duck into the school bookstore to escape. The last thing I hear as the door closes behind me is, "and yes, it has worked for me! All the time!" I tell the woman who works there, who I'm friendly with, what just happened. She says, "wait, hang on," and she describes him to me perfectly. She asks, "is that the guy?" I answer, "yes, absolutely." It turns out that he was in the school bookstore not 10 minutes ago, making passes against her and rubbing up against the books.

Submitted by CJ

Lexington Avenue LOSER!

Lexington Avenue near 86th Street, 7:45 p.m., Thursday night.

Walking towards the subway I see two guys eyeing me, but try to ignore them. Then I hear one of them say, "Hey baby, how you doin'? How you feelin'? COME SEE DADDY!" (impossible to put into words how creepy and disgusting that last part is.) I turn around to confront the guy. "How can you talk that way to someone you've never met before? I don't know you! Why don't you learn some manners? Why don't you go home and ask your mother to teach you some manners?" All he can manage during this tirade is to repeat "go away, aw, go away." Funny, he wanted my attention so badly a moment ago.

I turn and keep walking, but then remember my cell phone, so I go back to look for him. I spot him and his silent friend through a window, inside a small store. I step in and aim my camera at the back of his head. "Hey, loser!" He turns around and I snap his photo. He realizes, too late, what I'm trying to do. "Oh, no" he says, as he tries to step away, but there is no room to go anywhere. He says again, "go away, go away." I respond, "You're going on the internet, loser!" and walk out of the store.

Submitted by Nancy

The Price of Ignoring

http://www.wftv.com/news/11315838/detail.html?subid=22105266&qs=1;bp=t

A woman was walking down the street, and chose to ignore the catcalls some asshole was yelling at her as he drove past. Apparently he thought he was so entitled to her attention that he turned the truck around and ran her over. In other words, "that's what you get for ignoring me, bitch." Hard to hollaback from underneath your harasser/assaulter's vehicle.

The woman was taken to the hospital and is in serious condition. The driver of the truck is still at large. If he's ever found, police say they may charge him with attempted murder.

Submitted by Ann

Nothing Came Close to This

This is a blog I wrote about something that happened to me on Friday, March 9, at about 9:30 AM on the 4/5 train.

The 4/5 was really crowded this morning. I shoved my way on and buried my nose in the book I'm reading. As the train slowed down to stop at Union Square, I decided to put away my book.

As I closed my book, I happened to look slightly down and to my left. And I saw a man's penis, EJACULATING on the back of a poor unsuspecting girl's black down jacket as she faced the other way. The man was AIMING it for this poor girl's back. I gasped and flung myself backward away from the man as the doors opened and this disgusting, dirty man exited the train. - just a regular, disgusting pig of a man who probably does this every morning to some poor girl who happens to be facing the other way. He looked to be about thirty years old.

I don't know what happened to the girl afterward - I looked for her, but I was so shaken up as people at Union Sq. entered and exited the train, that I don't know where she went.

So some poor girl is now walking the streets of New York, with some disgusting man's semen spread all over the back of her black down jacket. The thought of it makes my stomach turn.
She'll probably notice it in a few days and think it was anything but what it really is.

So girls -- WATCH OUT ON CROWDED TRAINS. This could've been me, you, or anyone. I've had guys rub up against me before and try to grab my ass on the train, but nothing ever came (no pun intended) close to this.

Hollaing Back in the UK

Z and I were enjoying a pub lunch this afternoon when I began to be stared at and leered at by a random male stranger. He was mouthing words to me, and stared constantly at me. This made me feel upset and intimidated, but I tried to continue as if nothing was happening, and I avoided catching his gaze as far as I could.

But no amount of ignoring seemed to discourage him and I began to get angry. Why should *I* feel upset and uncomfortable, when it's *him* being rude, arrogant, intimidating and a complete idiot. How dare he?!

I started plotting and, inspired by sites like the fantastic Holla Back NYC - If you can't slap 'em, Snap 'em I got out my phone and took a photo of him with it. (The guy in question is the one sitting down, I've pixellated the entirely innocent guy walking behind him).

He realised what I was doing and looked duly horrified, and from then until we left the pub, he didn't even glance at me. I hope I scared him, like he had scared me.

And the photo is above. It's unfortunately not a very clear one, but still worth sharing, methinks. It makes me feel better anyway. Ha, you bastard.

How DARE you make me feel self-conscious? How DARE you make me feel like I should put a jumper on to cover up my barely-visible-anyway cleavage? How DARE you make me feel embarrassed? How DARE you scrutinise my movements and mouth sexual suggestions to me? How DARE you treat ANY WOMAN like a piece of meat? Whatever the fuck was going on in your head was YOUR problem and you made me feel like it was MY problem and MY fault.

You're a total idiot misogynist bastard and I actually hate you. Don't do it again. I mean that.

Submitted by Pippa

Sitting by Quietly

my friend and i were sitting on the N the other night, heading uptown from 8th street. we both noticed this guy sitting towards the middle of the train, eyeing us as we stepped in, but soon forgot him as we settled into our seats at the end of the train. As we chatted, we noticed somewhat, this guy getting up and walking towards us...nothing really to freak out about at that point, i mean, pretty much anyone except maybe jolly folk from kansas or something will look
sorta creepy on the train late at night....

anyways, i soon noticed that this guy had his sorry excuse for a penis hanging out of his pants, hidden on one side by a black garbage bag, so that only we could see what he was doing... i'm a firm believer in reminding flashers that not only is it wrong to flash women, but that there are women out there who will whoop their scrawny little asses if they disrespect them like that... so i proceeded to curse him out, in a loud enough voice for everyone to hear how pathetic and perverted he was. i walked away from the experience unsettled - not because i and a friend had been sexually harassed, but because there were so many people in that car, even a guy sitting right in front of us, and they ALL IGNORED US. they continued chatting, sitting quietly, minding their own businesses, and a group of people calmly followed the bastard out the door and up the stairs at union square.

don't we all inadvertently condone acts like these when we just sit by quietly? i'm not pissed because my friend and i were sexually harassed - i'm disgusted with those new yorkers who witnessed a crime and just let it be... what the fuck, new yorkers?

Never too Young

Although I do not live in New York City, I was recently in a gas station near my school in a different city. I was buying a pack of gum before school with my mother and sister. I came in alone quickly. I walked up to the wrong register and the cashier smiled and said other counter. I am normally very friendly and polite so I smiled and said okay.

As i was buying the gum, the man had enough gut to say "You are very pretty. How old are you?" My smile quickly faded. As i turned deep red, I mumbled something and ran out. I was so mad that some random man could just ask me a question like that and assume it'd be okay. I felt very violated. i know that my story isn't nearly as bad as most of the other's, but I wanted to share it.

Be careful out there, girls. Even we are at risk. The harassment has already begun.

Submitted by K.

Thanks for Making Me Feel Unsafe in My Own Home, Assclown

It's bad enough I have to live next to a construction site that wakes me up every morning at 7am, but as an added bonus, one of the workers has managed to make room for me in his (I'm sure very busy) harassment schedule. When I walked out my door this morning, I got to hear all the things that had crossed his mind re: my cunt since the last time I passed. And though I'm sure his boss and macho coworkers would sooner cut off his balls off than have him talk to their daughters that way, on the job all they do is laugh. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it short of sending his picture to HBNYC because the guy knows exactly where I live. Thanks for making me feel unsafe in my own home, Assclown. I hope it shrivels up and falls off.

Mr. My Penis-Should-Fall-Off

I was on my way to class on a crowded uptown 4 train when I encountered who I fondly refer to as Mr.My-Penis-Should-Fall-Off. He was standing extremely close behind me, but I figured it was because it was so crowded. He began to poke/nudge me a few times, which I thought might have been from his bag, so I eventually shifted over to the other side of the train. He proceeded to follow me and the incessant poking began AGAIN! However, the poking soon turned into disgusting THRUSTINGS! The train pulled into the 125th street train station moments later. He was getting off the train when I noticed that he was either pulling up his zipper or putting away what he sadly calls his penis. When I realized what he had done, I went to confront him. He made a mad dash for it down the platform when he saw me turn towards him, BUT HE WASN'T GETTING AWAY THAT EASILY! I chased him until he realized I wasn't going anywhere. He had the bright idea to hop back onto the same crowded train, so I pulled out my phone and snapped this picture. All I have to say is, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE LADIES... trust me, you don't want to be humped by a hobbit-like pervert!"

Submitted by Cathy

Tokyo Scare

Last year, I was completing my year of study in Japan. My american friend Laura and I were in Tokyo for a week. She and her family (her father being Japanese) had come and invited me up to Tokyo to stay with them in the hotel so we could bond and I could act as their translator. One day, her parents decided that they were going to go to a temple and told us we would be left on our own. Now, the part of Tokyo we were in was near Roppongi, which is... a very shady part of the town (we didn`t find out how shady till too late), the hotel was a block away from the Russian Embassy.

We hung around the hotel for a while until we decided we would go out to eat. We were NOT dressed slutty in ANYWAY. I am a Muslim so I always wear my head shawl and a dozen layers of clothing. Not to mention it was wet and rainy so we had heavy jackets on. As we walked down the street we talked and tried to figure out what we were going to eat. As we passed by a McDonalds I heard someone say "Hi!". I hadn`t heard English spoken in such a long time that I stopped, turned and looked at two men who were grinning at me and Laura. Laura and I exchanged a look, we had never seen either of these two men before, so we continued walking.

Then we heard "Hey! Wait up!" and the two men came out of the McDonalds after us. Instantly we panicked and took off running. The men FOLLOWED US. Laura, the faster runner, made it into the department store a block down while I was grabbed by the short One. The tall One went into the department store after Laura and dragged her back out. They started asking us questions, wanting to know if we would come with them to their apartment. They asked us if we would get in a car with them. They asked us if we wanted to "have some fun" with them. Now, mind you, Laura and I are 18 years old, in a foreign country, being forcibly held by two guys and no one is doing a thing to help us.

We try to get away but they just hold tighter onto us. The short guy was holding so tight onto my arm that it left a bruise. They kept feeling us up and asking us crude questions. We kept telling them that we had to leave and that we were going to go get something to eat. So they took us into a subway and bought us sandwhiches. They then managed to sit us against the wall so we couldn`t dash out.

They then literally made us eat the sandwiches, saying it was cute to watch us eat. It turned my stomach, especially as the short guy started to touch my thigh. After what was an eternity, a friend of theirs` walked in and they stood up to talk to them. I think they were high or something because their eyes were blood shot and the tall One was twitching alot.

Anyways, Laura and I then took the opportunity to escape, we ran out of there, literally knocking a few chairs over in our escape. Once out of the store we ran all the way back to the Russian Embassy to the safety of the security guards (who WERE armed, yay!). They watched out for the two men as we caught our breath, we then hurried back to our hotel where we asked the Manager to call the police. We filled out a police report and spent the last day of our trip in Tokyo hidden in the hotel room because we were too afraid to leave.

I have never felt so scared and threatened before in my life. I wanted nothing more than to escape from those two. If their friend hadn`t come in when she did I don`t know what would have happened to us.

A Walk Home

Tonight I was walking home with a friend from a wonderful dinner/girls' night out in D.C. Normally she would have just taken a cab and I would have walked home, since the restaurant was in my neighborhood.

Art by Eric Drooker

But she was concerned about my safety (which I thought was silly, because that's how I am) and we were engrossed in a good conversation. A few blocks from the restaurant, a completely trashed guy came up behind us and started walking along side us/just behind us, speaking loudly. "So, where you ladies been? Was it nice? Where you off to next?" I ignored him and kept walking, while my friend gave very abrupt, short answers.

Eventually, when it appeared he wasn't going to back off, I stopped with my friend and told the guy to go on. He turned around and muttered something about us "being like that" and moved along. The entire thing was so jarring, a firm reminder of how vulnerable we were on that street. I couldn't help but feel at once relieved that he hadn't been more agressive and threatened by the idea that I could have been alone. I couldn't help but wonder how that might have altered his behavior and I felt like a complete moron for thinking previously that I could walk home alone--clearly a luxurious privilege to which I am not entitled as a woman.

While I'm fairly sure he was just a drunk asshole and that either way it would have been fine, the entire thing was a reminder of how free men feel to violate women's personal space and to continue doing so, even when it is very clear that they're uncomfortable and not at all interested in pursuing the conversation.

It also pissed me off. I'm a grown woman. I shouldn't have to feel stupid for considering walking home alone for five blocks in my own neighborhood. I also shouldn't have to feel that I need to take a cab everywhere in the city not because I'm too lazy to walk, but because I'm afraid of the insensitive and unpredictable predators that I might find along the way.

When I got home, I found this blog by accident through Blogger's Blogs of Note. I'm just sad it didn't occur to me to take a picture, but next time, I'll certainly try. This is a wonderful idea and means to give voice to the small disturbances and demeaning experiences women face all the time, and pretty much accept as part of their daily lives.

Dude, if you're out there and reading this, you should be ashamed of yourself. I'm ashamed for you.

Expect it but Don't Accept it

Perhaps I thought it was normal, or maybe I just accepted it, but I refuse to anymore.

The first real incidence was when I was 12 or so, kneeling down looking at books in a bookstore. There was a man in sweats reading a book at the same section. I get totally absorbed when I read but he kept moving closer and closer. Next thing I know hes about 2 feet away and has a giant boner sticking out of his sweatpants. I quickly got up and went to a different part of the store (It disturbs me to this day that I didn’t do anything, perhaps because that man has or is molesting a child, and I could have done something to prevent that. I would like nothing better then to go back in time and change my reaction).

The second time it happened I was interning in DC. A man sat down next to me in the metro and proceeded to start asking me all sorts of questions. Did I like to party? What kind of partying? Do I like to have sex? How much do I like to have sex? The metro was extremely crowded and I was afraid of making a scene. I would have made a scene had it happened to me now. Then he started to try and touch my breasts. I jumped up and got the hell out of there. While I probably was in no actual danger, I felt disgusting and shaken.

The third time was a few weeks later when I was in London. My friends and I were in a large group because the premiere of The Last Samurai was in town and we were trying to get a glimpse of tom cruise. There were so many people and we were all crushed up against one another. All of a sudden, I realize that there is someone behind me trying to grab my breasts again, with one hand on my ass. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t even tell which person it was, but I freaked out and got out of there quick.

These three accounts don’t even begin to describe all the catcalls and obnoxious words I have heard on the street while just minding my own business, trying to get to or from work up and down Third Avenue. It doesn’t take into account the hundreds of times I have seen men do it to women other then myself. The above stories were simply the most terrifying and disgusting.

I kept running away. Well, I am sick and tired of running away. Hollaback NYC has given me back what was brutally taken from me, and that is my respect and my power. It sickens me to think that these men think they have a right to demean a woman like that. What sickens me more is that I let them up until now. Who teaches them that such a thing is an acceptable way to treat an other human? It is just another example of how, in this world, women very often are not considered human. I have my camera ready to show them next time that not only am I human, but one who is able to Hollaback. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent, and I am not giving mine any longer by being a passive observer of abuse.

Submitted by Katie

My Experience

The recent most recent experience at work and here we go again, another "fortune 500, one of America's Best Places to Work" and this creep starts in with the catcalling, etc. That quickly escalated to grabbing behind the neck and shoulders. Anything to make contact and get a squeeze. After my avoiding the person and keeping my husband at bay (no, an altercation at work would not be a good idea) I ended up going to HR and filing a complaint. It wasn't just going to be my problem any more. Having to sit in front of my boss and the rep was embarassing. I couldn't even admit to them at the time that he started touching me. They asked about witnesses and to tell you the truth, at the time that wasn't my biggest concern . The "here we go again" light bulb didn't go off in my brain. It was a busy day before Christmas and like everyone else, I was tired and a bit stressed out. Besides, I didn't know at the time how quickly this would escalate. While sitting there, I felt almost as if they didn't believe me and that in itself compounded just how badly I felt. My husband keeps telling me that I cannot imagine how wicked and warped some men's minds can be. He is trying to protect me and all women with such a statement but getting too paranoid isn't the answer either. Guess the lesson is to never let your guard down and don't be afraid to speak up. Also, don't deny the emotional damage and how it inconveniences your life. From my most recent experience, I felt angry, degraded, shamed, and frustrated. Not being able to just go to work and deal with the issues at hand without having to worry about how to avoid a confrontation and what the next surprise would be. Also, would I be labeled "a bitch" for being too thin skinned or overreactive? The point is, I felt violated and that in itself made it wrong.

Submitted by J.F.

Breast or Thigh with that?

Although this is not street harassment in the most literal sense, I thought you would find this interesting. I found the attached turd on my way to the grocery store this afternoon. Upon closer inspection I noticed that this is packaging for a phone card. A FUCKING PHONE CARD. I usually laugh at such "over the top" objectification of the female body, but this thing just made my stomach sink.

I'd much rather get cat-called on the street by some asshole than having to see this crap: at least I can yell back at a pervert (and/or send his picture to you guys). Shit like this (which displays the female body like so many breasts and thighs from a bucket of KFC) only encourages misogynist behavior.

Submitted by Miss H

Nice Ass

Last year i used to have to walk to my highschool. Right across the street there is always a huge group guy just standing there. At first they didn't bother me when i passed them but after my first few day they used to whistle at me and one of them even grabbed my ass. it was diguesting and i felt so violated. So i turned around and said " Yea i know my ass is nice but that gives you no reason to teach it." They all just stood there and stared at me.A few days later my friend who travels the same way as me but has to be in earlier told me that they had grabbed her ass a few times.sS I repoted them to the school security and we never saw them there again.

Assaulted in Graceland

I'm a NYC resident, and was on a business trip in Memphis this weekend when I was assaulted. I wanted to send a post to Holla Back, because I feel like this will make me feel as if I've reclaimed some of my power. I can't take back what happened and I can't get it out of my head, I just need to tell the world what he did.

The story starts - I was at Graceland when it happend yesterday afternoon at around 1:30 pm yesterday with a friend. I was on a tour of the house with about 8 other people. If you havn't been to Graceland, it is a museum of sorts. The house is pretty small and so the tour group gets herded from one room to the next. I was stopped taking a picture and leaning over a railing . That's when I felt it. A man, about 40 years old, wearing a blue windbreaker and a buzz cut- walking past with his friend reaches UNDERNEATH ME, between my legs and grabs my ass and reaching the front of my crotch. He keeps walking. I whipped around to scream "Are you fucking kidding me?!?" and everyone in the tour was wearing those stupid tour-headsets and no one said anything. So, I walked into the next room following the guy and tapped him on the shoulder, I didn't know what I was going to say - so I just kept tapping him on the shoulder. He pretended not to feel my tapping and hear my voice - and continued to take pictures. I asked him a few times "Are you fucking kidding me?! Did you just grab my ass??!!" and he didn't respond.. I said it again and he responded "No, I was just taking pictures." He turns around and looks at his child-molester looking friend behind him and asks if it was him.. and he just shrugs his shoulders. Walking around the room, I'm in fucking Elvis's house here - mind you - and there's a security guard right there, but I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to make a scene more than I already had -it's this completely silent room with a dozen strangers, and my ass and crotch were just grabbed. The feeling of a complete loss of power and thought and coping skills was just overwhelming. I went and told my friend (loudly) what had just happened and we stood there, in shock, me shaking - not knowing how to feel better about this. The guy was denying anything happened, and I just wanted to cry, but didn't want to cry in front of him. So I thought it over and decided, it would be worse if no one believed me, or if he got angrier and made me feel worse, so I kept on going and just tried to avoid him the rest of the afternoon.. I think a security guard heard me talking loudly about what had happened, and so next thing I know, I have 2 security guards following me at a distance around the grounds. This made me feel even worse - I thought the guy had told them that I had threatened him or something, and felt so dirty and disgusting and as if somehow, I had done something wrong. I eventually, an hour later - saw him again and told a security guard what had happened. The guard approached the men, who again - denied it was them - and the guard came back to tell me - they had denied it. I'm sorry. I think they should have been kicked out, but it didn't surprise me that they didn't do it.

Ever since the moment I was grabbed, I have been replaying the situation over and over in my head, wishing I could have done or said something better than what I did. I wish I could have just kicked him in the nuts, or started screaming and cursing and telling him what a pathetic human being he was that not only does he grab stranger's crotches, he can't own up to it. Tell him that because he can grab people doesn't mean he's got any sort of power, in fact, it shows how pathetic and powerless he is. I have taken self-defense classes before, but at that moment I was defenseless, speachless. I've never been one to have a good one-liner waiting in the wings, but I really wish I had just this once. I'm proud that I at least had the good sense (thanks to some amazing women I know who don't put up with any shit) to walk up to him and confront him. Hopefully that changed the power dynamic a little bit. I'm also proud that I eventually told a security guard. I guess all I can hope is that The King, up in heaven will defend my honor, I'm almost certain Elvis doesn't allow sexual assault in his living room. I hope that he can make sure that fuckhead got run over by a go-cart from hell on the way home last night. Hopefully, the spirit of Graceland won't be ruined for me - or maybe it's time to move onto another hollywood home, something more empowering, like Dollywood. The worst thing about this, was this was not the first time this has happened, nor will it be the last. This was a particularly aggressive move, but it happens every day to women who were not 'asking for it.' Next time, however - if its on the subway, or in a crowd, or in a museum like this was - I will scream, and I will kick and I will punch that asshole and I don't care if I'm making a scene or not.

Thanks Hollaback for doing what you do, and for making a space for me to reclaim my power.

Submitted by J