Our local river trail should be a place all feel safe to enjoy. Wednesday morning, as I was jogging on the trail near the Skate Park, a man verbally assaulted me at length and threatened me with sexual assault. I was fortunate that a passing cyclist stopped to help me, and that the Durango Police Department responded swiftly.
However, feeling fortunate it wasn’t worse, that it didn’t escalate into a horrific experience, is problematic! I was verbally assaulted and threatened in my community, in a supposedly safe space. I refuse to tolerate this behavior as a woman, a mother and a Durango citizen.
It is important for our community to recognize and label this behavior as street harassment, which includes “unwanted comments, gestures, or acts directed at someone in a public space without their consent.” (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network). This includes catcalls, sexually explicit comments, sexist remarks, homophobic slurs, groping, leering, stalking, flashing and assault.
Street harassment limits people's mobility and access to public spaces. It causes people – most frequently women – to feel unsafe in spaces that should be accessible to them. It is a human rights violation. Yet while it is vile, it is unfortunately common. I am fed up and furious. I hope community members who read this will heed this reminder to stay vigilant – for me, sadly, that now means jogging with a taser and bear spray, with the police dispatch number at the ready. Is this the community we’ve become?
Bobbi Maiers
Durango
