NEW GUIDE TO PREVENTING SEXUAL ASSAULT
(Article published in HWW November 2011)
Following a string of sexual assaults across Brooklyn and Queens, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has partnered with more than a dozen local elected officials and community organizations to release a guide providing information and safety tips to keep residents safe.
“My family lives in Park Slope, and these recent attacks have hit very close to home,” says de Blasio. “These are neighborhoods where people look out for one another, and that’s what these guides are about. We want to put the precautions and steps anyone can take to stop an assault into the hands of all New Yorkers.”
The new guide, called “How You Can Help Prevent Sexual Assault & Harassment,” offers practical advice on how to stay safe, including:
1. Trust your instincts. They are usually correct. If you suspect that you are being followed, stay away from lonely, quiet blocks and head for a store you know to be open. Don’t be afraid to contact the police if you question your own safety in a situation.
2. Plan your route along well-lit streets where there is a lot of foot traffic or establishments open at the time of your walk. If you are going to an area that you’re not familiar with and it is late at night, walk with others or consider taking a car service or taxi. If you notice a streetlight that is not working in your area, you can call 311 to file a service request.
3. Utilize community resources. Hollaback! provides a website (nyc.ihollaback.org) and iPhone and Droid apps that allow you to anonymously share your story and view harassment and assault cases in your neighborhood that may not have be reported to the police. If you don’t feel safe, non-profit organizations such as RightRides Safe Walk/Safe Slope or the Brooklyn Bike Patrol are available to escort you home in the evening and late-night. The Center for Anti-Violence Education also offers effective and empowering self-defense courses (see details below).
4. Be alert and aware of your surroundings. When walking home at night, keep your head up so you can see your surroundings. Work to present strong eyes and body language. Don’t wear headphones or display other inviting targets like cell phones, hand-held electronic games, or expensive jewelry. Carry your bag close to your body, tucked in the bend of your elbow, so you can let it go if you have to.
5. If a motorist bothers you while you are walking, turn around and walk in the opposite direction of the car. Do this as often as necessary.
6. Have your house key in your hand before you reach the door. Keep your keys in your hand until you are safely inside for added protection.
7. If you are coming home late at night, consider taking a taxi, car service or asking a friend for a ride – even if it’s a short distance. If you take a taxi or someone drops you off at home, ask the driver to wait until you are safely inside.
8. Don’t be afraid to yell and make a scene. Attackers often expect us to be silent. Use a loud voice to draw attention and to let the attacker know you will not be an easy target.
9. If you witness sexual harassment or assault, don’t be afraid to intervene, safely:
• During the act of harassment, ask the person who is being harassed “Is this person bothering you?” That question alone may deter a harasser who believes no one will intervene. If they say yes and the harasser does not leave or persists harassing, tell the harasser to stop or call for assistance (from police, a transit authority worker, or other people nearby).
• During the act of harassment, cause a distraction that will cause the harasser to stop. This may include asking the harasser for directions or for the time.
• After the harassment, ask the person who was harassed if they are OK, and if there is anything you can do to help. If there is – help them out.
• After the harassment, offer to escort the harassed individual to the police station or another safe location.
• Contact the police to report the harassment.
The guide also lists several organizations and community resources that provide preventative services and support for victims of sexual attacks:
Right Rides – Late night ride home Escort Service
Area: Four boroughs/45 NYC neighborhoods.
Contact: 888-215-SAFE (7233)
www.rightrides.org / info@rightrides.org
We Make Us Better – Volunteer ride-home Escort Service
Area: Park Slope, Utica Avenue subway station
Contact: WeMakeUsBetter@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/pages/We-Make-Us-Better/180406855303565
Brooklyn Bike Patrol – Volunteer ride-home Escort
Area: Southern Park Slope and Prospect Heights
Contact: 718-744-7592 / rocket55j@aol.com
Safe Slope – “Safe Walk” Initiative, Volunteer ride-home Escort Service
Area: South Slope, Greenwood Heights and Windsor Terrace
Contact: 347-709-8852 / safeslope@gmail.com
Center for Anti-Violence Education
Contact: 718-788-1775 / www.caeny.org
The Center for Anti-Violence Education offers free and low-cost violence prevention and self-defense classes for youth, women, LGBTQ communities and survivors.
Hollaback!
Hollaback!, a non-profit dedicated to ending public sexual harassment and assault, provides a website and iPhone and Droid apps that allow you to anonymously share your story. The organization also offers a map of harassment and assault cases in your neighborhood.
nyc.ihollaback.org
The Coalition for Gender Equity in Schools
The Coalition for Gender Equity in Schools provides workshops for youth, by youth, which help participants identify sexual harassment, develop skills to address it, and learn about their right to a safe school as outlined in Title IX.
Contact: 718-857-1393 / coalition@ggenyc.org
Download the full guide at:
www.advocate.nyc.gov/safercommunities
“How You Can Help Prevent Sexual Assault & Harassment” was produced in partnership with City Council Members Julissa Ferreras, Vincent Gentile, Sara Gonzalez, Brad Lander, and Peter F. Vallone, Jr.; State Senators Eric Adams and Velmanette Montgomery; Assembly Members James Brennan, Joan Millman, and Felix Ortiz
