Anchor Intro: The issue of street harassment has been thrust into the spotlight in the US, after a viral video exposed more than one hundred instances of verbal catcalls, snarky compliments and whistles directed at a young woman walking in New York City. While some claim that calling out is not punishable by law, other's argue that verbal abuse is a gateway to more serious offenses.
SOT-- Super: Khiara Ortiz, Stop Street Harassment
Just walking down the street, I experienced it once a week, sometimes once a day.
VO2: Khiara watching people pass on NYC streets
The comments may sound innocent enough, but Khiara says the unsolicited compliments she receives from men she passes, are often about her looks and are anything but flattering.
SOT -- Super: Khiara Ortiz, Stop Street Harassment
It makes me feel vulnerable and not welcome in the space that i'm in. It makes me feel that I'm getting unwanted attention.
VO3: Viral Video of Girl Walking in NY
The gawkers sound something like this.
UP-SOUND OF VIDEO:
"HEY BABY" ---- "HEY BEAUTIFUL"
VO4: Viral Video of Girl Walking in NY
VO6: Street Harassment Study Graphics
SOT-- Super: Lizzie Crocker, Reporter, The Daily Beast
I think there is a little scare mongering in this video. It gives the idea that people who live in New York don't have a moment to themselves.
VO8: Shot of Lizzie, Graphic of Article
Our correspondent Patrice Howard reports on what this recent video reveals about street harassment in the United States.
VIDEO DOWNLOAD: http://fsnradionews.com/feeds/1201-StreetHarass-PH.mp4
SCRIPT:
VO1: Streets of New York, Shots of Khiara Ortiz Walking
The streets of New York City are among the nosiest in the world. A siren here, or a taxi cab there, can be jarring. But Khiara Ortiz says she only cringes at the sound of strangers harassing her on the street.
VO1: Streets of New York, Shots of Khiara Ortiz Walking
The streets of New York City are among the nosiest in the world. A siren here, or a taxi cab there, can be jarring. But Khiara Ortiz says she only cringes at the sound of strangers harassing her on the street.
SOT-- Super: Khiara Ortiz, Stop Street Harassment
Just walking down the street, I experienced it once a week, sometimes once a day.
VO2: Khiara watching people pass on NYC streets
The comments may sound innocent enough, but Khiara says the unsolicited compliments she receives from men she passes, are often about her looks and are anything but flattering.
SOT -- Super: Khiara Ortiz, Stop Street Harassment
It makes me feel vulnerable and not welcome in the space that i'm in. It makes me feel that I'm getting unwanted attention.
VO3: Viral Video of Girl Walking in NY
The gawkers sound something like this.
UP-SOUND OF VIDEO:
"HEY BABY" ---- "HEY BEAUTIFUL"
VO4: Viral Video of Girl Walking in NY
This video of one woman's ten hour stroll through New York City, exposes more than 100 instances of verbal harassment. And recently went viral. Some question the legitimacy of the video, as it doesn't include comments from white men.
VO5: Broll of Khiara Ortiz Walking
VO5: Broll of Khiara Ortiz Walking
Khiara says its not a true reflection of her daily life, but does reveal a glaring form of aggression on American streets, that is largely ignored.
VO6: Street Harassment Study Graphics
A recent study by Stop Street Harassment, the non-profit Khiara blogs for - found that 65% of American women have experienced street harassment and that those encounters can often lead to other sexually-driven acts.
SOT -- Super: Khiara Ortiz, Stop Street Harassment
I think it should be illegal because it can also lead to other forms of aggression if we can't do anything about it.
VO7: Lizzie Crocker on camera
SOT -- Super: Khiara Ortiz, Stop Street Harassment
I think it should be illegal because it can also lead to other forms of aggression if we can't do anything about it.
VO7: Lizzie Crocker on camera
Not everyone agrees.
SOT-- Super: Lizzie Crocker, Reporter, The Daily Beast
I think there is a little scare mongering in this video. It gives the idea that people who live in New York don't have a moment to themselves.
VO8: Shot of Lizzie, Graphic of Article
Lizzie Crocker is a reporter and woman living in New York. Her recent article suggests that there is no way to define street harassment, and because of that, it is impossible to prosecute.
SOT-- Super: Lizzie Crocker, Reporter, The Daily Beast
I think that there are crimes and there are cultural issues and cultural problems and men acting boorishly making misogynistic remarks thats a cultural issue we don't need to legislate against that.
VO9: People in New York, Viral Video
Many forms of street harassment are illegal in New York City, like verbal assault and stalking. But until there is a way to separate criminals from those innocently sharing a compliment, videos like this will only shed light on an unavoidable annoyance on American streets.
Piece to camera -- Super: Patrice Howard
An interesting takeaway from that street harassment study is that men are also victims. Though not everyone agrees about whether these call outs are crimes or forms of free expression, the women we spoke to agree that educating others about this public annoyance is an important first step in stopping street harassment in its tracks.
Patrice Howard, for Telesur, New York
I think that there are crimes and there are cultural issues and cultural problems and men acting boorishly making misogynistic remarks thats a cultural issue we don't need to legislate against that.
VO9: People in New York, Viral Video
Many forms of street harassment are illegal in New York City, like verbal assault and stalking. But until there is a way to separate criminals from those innocently sharing a compliment, videos like this will only shed light on an unavoidable annoyance on American streets.
Piece to camera -- Super: Patrice Howard
An interesting takeaway from that street harassment study is that men are also victims. Though not everyone agrees about whether these call outs are crimes or forms of free expression, the women we spoke to agree that educating others about this public annoyance is an important first step in stopping street harassment in its tracks.
Patrice Howard, for Telesur, New York