Contact:
safeslope@gmail.com
347-709-8852
SAFE SLOPE ANNOUNCES “SAFE WALK” INITIATIVE STARTING THURSDAY, SEPT. 29
Safe Slope is saddened by news of two sexual assaults in the Park Slope area that occurred on Wednesday night. While these recent assaults may be leaving many of us feeling frightened or sometimes powerless, the hundreds of people who joined us in “Take Back Our Streets” rally on September 14 demonstrated that we are a strong community of people who care about one another’s safety and well-being. We are looking out for each other.
We know that many community members have taken steps to help one another out—from walking a neighbor/roommate/friend/family member home to creating a “buddy system” in their apartment building to generally keeping their eyes and ears open. Still, like many of you, the members of Safe Slope have asked ourselves, “What else can we do?”
Moving forward, we are excited to announce the launch our Safe Walk Initiative on Thursday, September 29. Safe Slope’s Safe Walk initiative is a volunteer-based program providing free walks home to women- and LGBTQ-identified community members. To arrange a Safe Walk, call 347-709-8852, and a pair of Safe Slope volunteers will meet you at a location in the neighborhood (e.g., subway stop, store, bar, friend’s house, etc.) and will walk you anywhere in our catchment area (between 9th and 30th Streets and between 2nd and 8th Avenues in Brooklyn). We will be piloting the Safe Walk program in South Slope/Greenwood Heights/Windsor Terrace on Thursday, September 29, through Saturday, October 1, between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m.
When we organized Safe Slope in late August, our goal was to provide the Safe Walk service as soon as possible. Since organizing the “Take Back Our Streets” rally, we have been focusing on vetting volunteers and carefully considering relevant safety issues for the walk. Safe Slope is a new grassroots group. Our members are your typical neighbors and we’re looking for volunteers to help us with the high demand for services and resources! Please contact us at safeslope@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming a Safe Walk volunteer. We are thrilled that many of you have already expressed interest in volunteering. We look forward to working with you.
Please remember:
If you hear someone calling for help, look outside. Be willing to call the police for them. This is YOUR neighborhood. The person needing help could be your neighbor.
While it’s not the responsibility of women to prevent sexual assaults, we recommend the following safety tips for all:
- Try and be aware of your surroundings
- Try to use the buddy system: walk with a friend, relative, or neighbor whom you trust
- If possible, walk in well lit areas
- Don’t wear headphones while walking or jogging
- If possible, walk in areas where there is a lot of foot traffic or establishments open at the time of your walk so you have a safe place to run to if you are being followed/attacked
- Avoid passing too close to big bushes, dark doorways, alleys, or any other places of concealment
- If you don’t feel safe, a non-profit organization called RightRides offers free, safe, late-night rides home to women, LGBTQ and genderqueer individuals on Friday and Saturday nights between midnight and 3 a.m. CALL 718-964-7781 or 888-215-SAFE (7233)
In solidarity and support,
The Members of Safe Slope
Safe Slope
Safe Slope formed in Brooklyn in August 2011 to respond to multiple assaults that occurred in Park Slope and several surrounding neighborhoods. Their goal is to work with their neighbors to empower and protect the community, and to help create a citywide network of those seeking to do the same.
For more information, please visit:
Website: www.safeslope.org
Facebook: http://facebook.com/SafeSlope
Twitter: @safeslope
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thirdbeatred reblogged this from safeslope and added:
area, please get involved
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popularfavorites liked this
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gillianmae reblogged this from safeslope and added:
Slope/South Slope/Gowanus/Windsor Terrace area,...program, email safeslope@gmail.com.
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safeslope posted this
