“I’ve Got Your Back” Campaign

At the Change the Status Quo Conference (details in the post below), we really want to discuss “the bystander.” People should strive to be independent and self-reliant, but being a victim of street/sexual harassment is not a choice. It is something uncomfortable, confusing, scary and upsetting, and it is not always easy to react in the way you want to. However, the bystander can act. The bystander is often not paralyzed by fear, can safely use a phone, show support for the victim, and/or intervene.

Hollaback! has a campaign called “I’ve Got Your Back” that addresses the need for bystander intervention and support. It started with Nicole Briggs, a woman who stood up to a sexual harasser on a subway, and with the assistance of bystanders, had him arrested. Her actions were documented on a cell phone and this video made the rounds on the Internet, getting over one million views on YouTube. Briggs is now a regular contributor to Hollaback and a great example for all of us.

Hollaback! (and hopefully this conference workshop) will fight the bystander effect tooth and nail. We can stop people becoming victims by looking out for the strangers, neighbors, homies, family members, roommates, etc. who want to walk down the street without fear.

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