Tag Archive | The independent

Men in France could be fined €90 for harassing women in the street

Anytime a country has to legislate basic manners and civility, it is an indication that the country becoming a third world-esque nation.  Maryland is already considering street harassment laws, while it is rumored that Los Angeles, California has already passed ordinances in which street harassers will receive citations. Yet France, on a national level decided to officially tackle the pervasive issue of sexual/street harassment.  At least one western nation is taking a stand. America, leader of the free world, what will you do?:

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Men in France could be fined €90 for harassing women in the street                                      Thursday 25 January 2018 12:25 GMT

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-fine-men-harassment-women-street-a8177296.html

Men in France could face fines of €90 (£78) for making lewd comments about women in public, under new plans to tackle street harassment.

A government report recommends enforcing the fine for behaviour that infringes on “the freedom of movement of women in public spaces and undermines self-esteem and the right to security”.

The plans come from a parliamentary working group on street harassment launched by gender equality minister Marlene Schiappa.

A longtime ally of President Emmanuel Macron, Ms Schiappa said in September that new measures were needed to address the “grey zone between consented seduction and sexual aggression”.

Men who make loud and lewd comments about women, follow them or block their path could be fined, according to measures suggested in the report.

The parliamentary group suggested imposing a €90 fine on those who pay immediately, increasing to €200 (£174) if it is paid within 15 days and €350 (£304) if the payment is later than that.

It did not recommend impose fines for wolf-whistling, according to French daily Le Croix, contrary to earlier reports.

The report is set to be presented to Ms Schiappa next week, along with France’s Minister of Justice Nicole Belloubet and Minister of the Interior, Gerard Collomb. The ministers will then put a bill on sexism and sexual violence to parliament.

Mr Macron has said tacking street harassment will be a priority for his government and in November said  ”women in the republic cannot be afraid to go out” .

News Article: ‘Catcalls of NYC: The project raising awareness of street harassment,’ 12/05/2017, The Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/catcalls-of-nyc-instagram-street-harassment-women-sexual-men-new-york-us-a8092636.html

INDYLIFE:  Catcalls of NYC: The project raising awareness of street harassment:                              Tuesday 5 December 2017 10:45 GMT

 

A young American woman is shining a spotlight on street harassment with her project, Catcalls of NYC.

21-year-old Sophie Sandberg asks her Instagram followers to send in messages about their experiences being sexually harassed on the street, detailing the exact location it took place and what was said.

Sandberg then goes to the spot in question, writes the catcall on the street in bright chalk, takes a picture and posts it on Instagram.

“Jesus Christ, nice tits. I wish I could suck on ‘em.”

“Smile, honey. Smile over here. Just smile for me! Too good? B****.”

“I’m gonna f*** the s*** out of you someday.”

Sandberg hopes that seeing the remarks written down will help hammer home her message.

“By writing the comments on the sidewalk where they happened, I raise public awareness about the issue,” Sandberg told HuffPost

“The colourful chalk and colourful words catch people’s eyes. They force those who wouldn’t normally experience catcalling to take a second look.”

Although sexual harassment on the street is incredibly common, not everyone has experienced it or realises the severity of the problem.

But Sandberg’s project is helping combat this. 

“No one questioned or challenged it. It was simply an accepted annoyance,”she said. 

“For me, it has always been more than an annoyance. It’s shaped my experience in public space. It’s affected my confidence and comfort walking down the street. It’s silenced me ― I’ve never felt comfortable responding to catcalls, as much as I’d like to tell these men off.”

Sandberg also hopes the project will encourage people to speak up when they see someone being catcalled.

She’s not the first to use Instagram to highlight the extent of street harassment – earlier this year, 20-year-old Dutch woman Noa Jansma made waves with her project Dear Catcallers, which saw her taking selfies with her street harassers.

With every project raising awareness, it’s hoped we can finally bring an end to women being harassed on the street while simply going about their daily lives.

BLM Hypocrisy: Most Black “Christians” Violate Civil Rights of Sunni Muslim Black Americans-Protests Against Immigration Ban a Farce: PART III

 The following incidents have happened to me, someone who I personally know or relayed to me directly by a witness to these occurrences:

1) One late morning I was driving westbound on 175 West, also known as Waterloo Road towards Columbia, Maryland (USA). There weren’t many cars in the direction I was going in the 4 car lane. I had the right away when suddenly, a dark-skinned male who appeared to be form the City of Baltimore did not yield and intentionally made a left to what became a u turn from the eastbound direction.  He intentionally drove destructively as he literally stopped in the middle of the road and stared at me like he was going to pull a weapon.  I had to wait until he would drive and he had the AUDACITY to roll his eyes at me though I had the right of way and he was the one that nearly caused an accident.

2) Someone I know stated that she witnessed two covered Muslim women at a grocery store parking lot going to their cars in NW, Washington, D.C. (USA).  A group of black American females came out of nowhere and approached them, yelled at them then accosted them.  She stated that the black females were attempting to snatch the Muslim women’s hijabs off.  The person I know who witnessed it said she stopped and noticed another woman (white) who was already dialing the police on her cell phone. Both waited until the police arrived to be sure that they could be listed as witnesses.

3)  A college student who is a Sunni Muslim Black American young woman worked as a cashier at the Weiss grocer located at 9250 Washington Blvd N, Laurel, MD 20723 (USA).  A black “Christian” female began yelling at the young Muslim cashier noting that the employee did not have an Arabic first name (for some reason she assumed in order to be a Sunni Muslim one must be a foreign national and an Arab). The young lady attempted to be patient and explained that she converted to Islam. The black female “Christian” customer berated her (total stranger) stating “If I was your mother I wouldn’t tolerate none of that.” The woman was a total stranger, held up the line and apparently does not have an iota of civility or respect for boundaries with her blind hatred.

4) At the East Columbia Public Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, Maryland a “religious group” (Black “Christians”) are given permission multiple spring seasons to proselytize in front of the public library (local government, publicly funded building) complaints filed. One obese woman literally blocked my entrance to the library and tried to “grill” me in the face. She is confronted by police becomes belligerent and argues at the officer and is physically removed from the property.

5) Attended an extended family member’s funeral at a First Baptist Church in Prince George’s County, Maryland. I was dressed in hijab and an abaya which I felt most comfortable in at the time in a house of worship.  One of my cousins sitting to my right was grieving heavily so I tried to comfort her as it was her dad’s death we were mourning. We were in a few rows back with other family. The Baptist preacher stared at me and interrupted whatever his ‘sermon’ was and said to me “I see we have someone who hasn’t accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior.” Even the Christian relations were offended by his inappropriateness during their time of mourning and vulnerability. Everyone was silent and waited for the “preacher” to resume the funeral service.

6)  One day I was walking to university classes from the north to south campus buildings and there were some black male university students hanging outside.  It was apparent I was Muslim as I was in hijab and one of the black males audibly said “..if she wasn’t Muslim I would f*#@ her”:  not I would ask her out, court her, find out about her, or talk to her as a human being but rather one way or another (sexual assault) he would have his way with me. I pretended like I didn’t hear what was said and kept walking quickly, looking straight ahead.

7)  One day while driving to work in Washington, D.C., I was at a red light on New York Avenue, right before you get to the police station or academy on the right about two blocks before you can turn left onto H Street, NW, Washington, D.C. A dark-skinned black male emerged from the plexi-glass seating for the metro bus and started making masturbating gestures and thrusting. There was a white male driver in front of me with a luxury car and as soon as the light turned we drove as fast as we could to pass what was happening on the sidewalk.

8) On a bright and sunny mid-afternoon, I was returning to my car and making a purchase at the Target located 3343 Corridor Marketplace, Laurel, MD 20724 (Maryland City). As I was crossing from the store entrance walking towards the parking lot two black “Christian” females began laughing and gossiping about me. One of them stated, “..that’s why I don’t like them, they have flat butts.”  The other one responded, “nah uh, no she don’t.” I thought it was the strangest, lesbian-type of public conversation to have about a covered Sunni Muslim woman. I walked a bit quicker to get to my car.

9) One day I was in a government office in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. In the parking lot I ended up speaking with another Sunni Muslim Black American woman. I told her the observations and experiences I have had with Black “Christians” and that I did not understand why total strangers were so evil. She informed me that although she doesn’t wear hijab now, when she did, she and her brother were teased relentlessly by Black “Christians.” She even mentioned that she had a brother named Rashad and all the Black “Christians” would refer to her as “Ra-sh*@#.” The woman stopped wearing hijab primarily due to the discrimination both in social contexts with Black “Christians” and workplace discrimination because of her faith.

10) One early morning I was doing laundry at the laundromat located at 125 Bowie Rd, Laurel, MD 20707 on a Saturday. It was approximately a little after 6:00 a.m. and I was sorting clothes. I hear someone come from behind me (never made their appearance known) asking when did I arrive to the laundromat. No one said excuse me or appeared in front of me to indicate that he or she was addressing me. Second, it’s no one’s business, including a total stranger has the right to know my whereabouts. The Asian male manager and one employee was working in the laundromat so if she wanted to know when it opened she could have addressed an appropriate question to them.  But it was apparent that she felt she had the right to question and know my business though she, like all of the incidents I describe was a total stranger.

Anyway, the woman put her hand on me and tried to swing/push me around and stated with a grimace, “I’m trying to ask you a question.” I then smacked her hand off of me and stated, “You do not put your hands on a total stranger.”  Once again, the dark-skinned uncivilized black female kept talking, she responded “if you put your hands on ME again we will have a problem.” Yes, the woman who accosted me is now upset that I responded in like kind. In an even louder tone I stated “you touched me first.” She knew she couldn’t say anything further because there were cameras, witnesses and employees who saw the whole incident unfold. I continued, “..obviously I do not want to talk to you.” I informed that she was a “trouble-making n#@!r.” She turned quiet and the manager called the plaza security guard to which she said nothing further and stayed away from me the rest of the time I was doing my laundry. Once again TOTAL STRANGER.