NYT On "Catcalling": Should Congress Pass the Dig Up Emmett Till and Lynch Him Again Act of 2014?

By Steve Sailer

11/03/2014

From the NYT:

Do We Need a Law Against Catcalling?

INTRODUCTION

The video “10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman” was directed by Rob Bliss. YouTube

NYC as a Woman” was directed by Rob Bliss. YouTubeHollaback!, an anti-street harassment organization, released a video taken with a hidden camera that quickly went viral, offering proof that the harassment women describe (and some people dismiss) actually happens on a regular basis.Should current laws dealing with harassment be strengthened to include catcalling, or will that go too far in trying to control speech and behavior?

DEBATERS

• 

  Law Should Restrict Intimidating Behavior

  LAURA BETH NIELSEN, AUTHOR, “LICENSE TO HARASS.”

  A law that would prohibit street harassment would also be consistent with our First Amendment jurisprudence about other kinds of hate speech.

• 

  Legislating Comes With Real Risks

  GABE ROTTMAN, AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

  Extending disorderly conduct laws to unwanted verbal interactions would amplify the potential for misuse.

• 

  Training, Awareness and Legal Action When Needed

  HOLLY KEARL, STOP STREET HARASSMENT

  Every state should provide people with the option to seek legal recourse for persistent or threatening verbal harassment, and several do.

• 

  Telling Our Stories to Change the Culture

  TATYANA FAZLALIZADEH, ARTIST, “STOP TELLING WOMEN TO SMILE”

  We need to force our stories of abuse into the public conversation, and demand better treatment.

< Previous

Next >