Join CASS and our partners for Anti-Street Harassment Week, an international week of action to end public harassment organized by Stop Street Harassment.

From April 8th-14th, we are lifting our voices, raising awareness, and centering the lived experience of survivors in DC to say that street harassment is not part of the world in which we want to live. Our advocacy efforts are focused on passing the Street Harassment Prevention Act (SHPA), legislation in DC Council which will invest in community education and training to end street harassment in public spaces, and supporting policies like the bills to decriminalize sex work and decriminalize fare evasion to combat systemic causes of violence. The most marginalized in our communities are at the forefront of this movement everyday and this week is no different!

Be a part of Anti-Street Harassment Week and learn more about actions you can take to #PassSHPA and decriminalize sex work:

Sunday, April 8th: Canvass to Bust Myths about Sex Work
We’re kicking off this year’s International Anti-Street Harassment Week by centering the experiences of sex workers and those at the margins who have been pushed out of the broader #MeToo movement. DC sex workers are already bearing the brunt of the recent passage of federal legislation that makes it harder for them to safely do their work. On Sunday, the participants in our Rethink Masculinity program will be canvassing neighborhoods to bust myths about sex work. Join CASS, BYP100, and DC DSA to talk to our neighbors about why we need #DecrimNow to build safety for everyone!

Monday, April 9th: Anti-Street Harassment Week Speakout and Digital Action
We’ll be raising our voices—in storytelling and song—to uplift the voices of people who experience public harassment most: black and brown people, queer people, trans people, women, and especially those living at the intersection of these and other marginalized identities. Join us at Freedom Plaza from 5-6:30 p.m.!

Everyone is invited to speak out! Ways to raise your voice will include:

• Twitter, where we’ll boost the event and let our councilmembers know why we’re there
• Email, in a letter to your councilmember
• Online, with the Share Your Story form
• On the mic, which will be open at times so you can share your story

If you can’t be there in person, join the digital speakout, post on social media with the hashtags #NopeDC and #EndSH, and amplify our ask with #PassSHPA. If you need sample tweets, click here.

As a reminder, passing SHPA will:

• Create a fund for innovative programs to address street harassment by nonprofits, business associations, college organizations, and others
• Get government employees trained to intervene to stop harassment
• Collect data on street harassment so we can develop solutions that work for everyone
• Create a committee, with community leaders at the table, to oversee these projects

Wednesday, April 11th: Flyering with WMATA
Did you know: 21% of transit riders on the DC Metro have been sexually harassed? This Anti-Street Harassment Week, we’re partnering with WMATA to canvass Metro stops to raise awareness about our ongoing partnership to make public transit safer for everyone. We will be flyering outside different stations from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and need your help! Sign up here to volunteer.

Saturday, April 14th: DC Street Action Against Street Harassment
To wrap up Anti-Street Harassment Week, we’ll be chalking at 14 & U Street NW to raise awareness about public harassment — and provides an opportunity for you to share your stories. We’ll also enjoy a performance by Batala Washington, an all-women Afro-Brazilian ban, while we’re chalking and flyering!

Ongoing: Poster Campaign
Along with our partners at No Justice No Pride, we are launching a poster campaign for Anti-Street Harassment Week. If you see one of our Anti-Street Harassment posters around town, take a picture and tweet it at your Councilmember to urge them to #PassSHPA now!

We’re excited to take action with you this week! If you’re interested in volunteering, please email leah@collectiveactiondc.org to get involved.