This year's street signs on harassment are accompanied by blue flags at Park Square, each indicating a sexual assault survivor who contacted the Elizabeth Freeman Center last year.
Street Harassment Signs Return to Park Square for Sexual Assault Awareness Month
The Berkshire Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force installed the public art exhibitions by activist-artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh from her book "Stop Telling Women to Smile: Stories of Street Harassment and How We're Taking Back Our Power."
The series includes phrases such as "Let women walk in peace," "You are not entitled to my space," and "I am not here for you."
This year, they are accompanied by blue flags to represent sexual assault survivors who contacted the Elizabeth Freeman Center in 2021.
"April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the U.S., and actually in a fair number of countries globally, and we wanted to repost the signs from last year because street harassment continues to be a serious problem and because we thought that they were powerful tools," planning committee co-chair and Elizabeth Freeman Center board member Susan Birns said.
She explained that in recent years, the Freeman Center has posted blue pennants on its lawn to represent every sexual assault survivor who contacted the agency during the year.
The numbers come from its database, meaning that a person could have reached out looking for services or a referral and identified that they were sexual assault survivors. The survivors could have called because they were in a domestic violence crisis but if sexual assault was a part of their history they were identified as such.
"And those numbers are really staggering especially considering that for the past year, we've still been in pandemic, there were 373 people in that category in 2021, and that represented a 10 percent increase from 2020 when there were 335," Birns said.
"And if we go back a few more years to 2016, there were 318, so before the pandemic, and the 373 is a 17 percent increase over the 2016 number, which was 318.
"So the numbers have been, I can't say going steadily up because there were a couple of years between 2016 and 2020 that the numbers were down a little bit, but primarily it's been an upward trajectory and obviously, that's very problematic."
There are about 200 blue flags in Park Square to represent the sexual assault survivors.
The signs and flags are also displayed in front of Monument Mountain Regional High school in Great Barrington.
The task force is also starting to gear up for its next "One Book, One Community" read that will kick off in October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Community members will be reading "Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence" by Tanya Selvaratnam.
In the book, Selvaratnam recounts the intimate abuse she suffered while in a relationship with former New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
"At the same time that he was publicly an ally for survivors, he was abusive in his own relationship," Birns said. "So it's a memoir, it’s a very powerful book, it was published in 2021 and we're very excited about it."
A webinar event is being planned with the author for April 2023.
Last year, the community read with Fazlalizadeh's "Stop Telling Women to Smile: Stories of Street Harassment and How We're Taking Back Our Power" attracted about 250 readers and 250 attendees at the April webinar.
Fazlalizadeh is a visual artist who attended art school in Philadelphia, which is where she became aware of the strong presence of street harassment in women's lives. Upon moving to New York City, she became tired of the harassers and wrote the book that includes 40 portraits of women affected by this kind of harassment.
To create the pieces, Fazlalizadeh interviews women and asks "what would you like to say to your harasser?" She then uses the women's responses as a caption under pencil sketches that she draws of interviewees. These images can be easily shared and blown up. They have been featured on building facades and in public spaces all over the country and internationally.
Birns reported that there was an indigenous woman from Canada at the webinar who said she felt validated by Fazlalizadeh's work.
A strange act of vandalism occurred last year when the street harassment art installation was taken down from Park Square and moved across the street and put into piles on lawns with about 10 of them being displayed upright.
Birns said the task force still has no answers about the incident and hopes it does not happen again.
There are also a number of events coming up that address sexual assault.
The Freeman Center is hosting Stand Out Against Sexual Assault events on Thursday, April 21, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at North Adams City Hall, and on Thursday, April 28, from 5 to 6 at Park Square. A standout was held in Great Barrington this past week.
"Denim Day" will also be recognized on April 27. It was created when the Italian Supreme Court overturned a rape conviction because the survivor was wearing tight jeans, "thereby implying consent." The next day, the women of the Italian Parliament showed up in jeans, demonstrating solidarity with the survivor. It is now an international movement.
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Gov. Healey Urges Preparedness Ahead of Winter Storm
Staff Reports
BOSTON, Mass.—The Healey-Driscoll Administration is asking Massachusetts residents to plan ahead and review winter weather safety tips this weekend and into early next week, ahead of the anticipated winter storm.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for western Massachusetts from Friday at 7 p.m. to Saturday at 1 p.m. with wind chills as low as 25 degrees below zero expected in some spots. A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect from 10 p.m. Friday evening to 10 a.m. Saturday morning for the rest of the state with low wind chills to 20 below zero.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from Sunday morning through Monday evening.
According to the NWS, wind chill temperatures will be in the single digits and below zero across much of Massachusetts on Saturday. The snowstorm, which is expected to intensify during the evening and overnight hours on Sunday into Monday will result in total accumulations above 12 inches for much of Massachusetts with some communities potentially receiving up to 2 feet of snow. Slippery road conditions are expected throughout the state with the Monday morning commute expected to be especially difficult.
Governor Maura Healey directed non-emergency Executive Department state employees not report to their workplaces on Monday, Jan. 26, and is urging employers to consider having employees work remotely to the extent possible.
"This weekend, we will be reminded of the extremes that winter weather can pose for us here in Massachusetts with extremely cold temperatures on Saturday and high snow totals expected on Sunday into Monday," said Governor Maura Healey. "This kind of weather can be dangerous, so please take precautions to stay warm when the temperature drops, stay home to the extent possible, and look out for one another."
The State Emergency Operations Center will be activated at the headquarters of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) in Framingham. MEMA will also be activating regional emergency operation centers in Agawam, Tewksbury and Franklin.
"MEMA is prepared to respond to any requests for assistance that communities impacted by this winter storm may have," said MEMA Director Dawn Brantley. "It's important to stay informed of the latest conditions and to take precautions to stay warm when outside and safe while on the roads during and after the storm."
How Residents Can Prepare
Plan ahead and take care when traveling on the roads. Clear snow and ice from your vehicle's windows, lights, hood and roof before driving. Utilize safe winter driving practices, including leaving extra room for braking and stopping in slippery travel conditions. Don't crowd plow or maintenance vehicles. Stay back at least 200 feet and don't pass on the right.
Prepare for possible power outages. Fully charge your cellphone, laptop and any essential electronic devices before the storm. Ensure you have extra batteries for medical equipment and assistive devices. Take stock of your emergency kit and ensure it includes seasonal supplies, such as extra winter clothing and blankets.
Test your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms to make sure they work correctly and have fresh batteries. During and after the storm, check your appliance exhaust vents, making sure that they are not obstructed by snow or ice.
If you use a generator for storm-related power outages, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Never use a generator indoors, not even in an open garage. Point the exhaust away from doors and windows. Turn the generator off and wait for it to cool before you refuel it. Plug appliances in using outdoor-rated extension cords.
Follow recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace or a woodstove to heat your home.
If you are able, clear your nearest fire hydrant of snow and ice for three feet in each direction.
Additional tips on what to do before, during, and after a winter storm can be found at Mass.gov/Snow.
MassDOT
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is advising travelers that snowfall is expected to impact travel in many regions of the state, from Sunday evening through Monday morning. Travelers should allow for extra travel time and check forecasts for their routes and destinations. With significant snowfall amounts forecast, MassDOT crews will be pretreating roadways in advance of the storm and will be deploying snow removal staff, with over 3,000 pieces of equipment, available for deployment as necessary across the Commonwealth.
"With a significant winter storm expected to bring over a foot of snow across Massachusetts, transportation crews are preparing to keep roads safe and passable," said Interim MassDOT Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng. "We urge everyone to plan ahead and limit travel, if possible. If you must travel, slow down, allow for extra time, keep a safe distance from plows and other vehicles, and be mindful of changing conditions. Public transit riders should check for service updates and official alerts. Our teams will be working throughout the storm and into recovery to support safe travel and we ask the public to do their part so everyone can get where they need to go safely."
"MassDOT crews are fully prepared and will be working around the clock, starting with efforts to pretreat roadways before the storm arrives, and continuing throughout this weekend as the system moves across Massachusetts. Our top priorities are keeping roadways safe and responding quickly to changing conditions," said Undersecretary and State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. We are asking travelers to consider public transportation options and to use caution if they must be on the roads. Thank you to our crews that will be clearing snow and ice from our roads, bridges, and interchanges."
For more information on traffic conditions, travelers are encouraged to:
Download the Mass511 mobile app or visit www.mass511.com to view live cameras, travel times, real-time traffic conditions, and project information before setting out on the road. Users can subscribe to receive text and email alerts for traffic conditions.
Dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions.
Follow @MassDOT on X, (formerly known as Twitter),to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions.
MBTA
For service updates immediately before, during, and after a storm, MBTA officials urge riders to subscribe to text or email T-Alerts before snowfall for real time notifications about service disruptions. We also encourage riders to follow the MBTA on X (the site formerly known as Twitter) @MBTA, @MBTA_CR, and @MBTA_CR_Alerts for information. During and after winter storms, the Commuter Rail and bus routes may need to reduce service and operate on storm schedules. The MBTA will update the Commuter Rail schedules and bus schedules to match. Riders can also visit the T's Winter Travel Guide at mbta.com/winter.
Crews will work to clear snow and ice throughout the system, but riders are asked to use caution on platforms and at bus stops.
Massport
Boston Logan International Airport will remain fully operational throughout the weekend though many airlines are cancelling flights and few flights are expected during the storm. Many airlines are waiving change fees so passengers should check with their airline about rescheduling their flight. For passengers with confirmed flights, heavy snowfall and potential slick roadways are expected at times, and passengers should allow extra time to get to and from Logan.
For any additional questions, passengers can contact our Passenger Service team via our website, by calling 1-800-23-LOGAN or the free FlyLogan app.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is monitoring the forecast and preparing its snow removal equipment for the agency's parkways, sidewalks and properties in anticipation of a plowable event. DCR prioritizes plowing on primary roadways and parkways, as well as designated sidewalks, pathways and crosswalks that provide safe passage in the immediate proximity to schools while school is in-session. The agency anticipates activating its statewide storm center on Sunday.
To ensure safety and accommodate winter storm operations, DCR is closing all agency-managed recreation facilities including all visitor centers, the Melnea A. Cass Recreation Center, and Dillaway Thomas House on Sunday, January 25 and Monday, January 26. All programs at parks across the state will be canceled on Sunday and Monday. All of these facilities are expected to reopen for normal operations on Tuesday, January 27.
Additionally, DCR is closing the following agency-operated skating rinks at 12 p.m. on Sunday, January 25: Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Rink in Charlestown, Private First-Class Robert M. Devine Skating Rink in South Boston, Alexander S. Bajko Memorial Skating Rink in Hyde Park, Kelly Outdoor Rink in Jamaica Plain, Private First-Class Steven J. Steriti Memorial Skating Rink in the North End, Francis L. Murphy Ice Memorial Ice Skating Rink in South Boston, and the Lieutenant James F. Reilly Memorial Rink in Brighton. These facilities are expected to reopen on Monday, January 26 after snow removal operations are completed.
DCR may implement parking bans for agency-managed roadways and designated DOT managed roadways. The timing of the parking bans will be consistent with local municipal bans. Please refer to local parking ban announcements for current restrictions. All parking bans on DCR parkways apply to both sides of the road, and vehicles parked on these areas during an active snow emergency will be ticketed and towed. Parking bans are expected to be lifted shortly after the completion of snow clearing operations.
Learn more from DCR on how to make your own more environmentally friendly liquid salt brine. Liquid salt brine – a mix of salt dissolved in water – serves as an anti-icing agent to prevent snow and ice from binding to the road surface, allowing for easier removal, fewer applications and faster return to a clean paved surface. This snow removal technique is more cost effective and environmentally friendly for municipalities, state agencies and consumers.
Department of Public Utilities
The Department of Public Utilities and the Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs) continue to monitor the weather forecast and are updating their Emergency Response Plans accordingly. The DPU and EDCs remain in close communication as the storm develops. The EDCs conduct daily storm planning calls, provide regular updates to the DPU regarding storm preparation activities, and the companies will put in place their Emergency Response Plans if and when necessary to swiftly address any potential outages. These Plans include increasing the number of troubleshooters and dispatchers to help customers quickly and adding more engineers and line crews to work on any on-site incidents.
Should customers experience any power outages, report the issue directly to your electric company. Please stay far away from any downed wires at all times and report them immediately to 911.
Additionally, the DPU's Winter Shut-off Moratorium is still in effect and applies to residential customers of the investor-owned electric and gas companies and Municipal Light Plant customers. These utility companies cannot shut off heating service to residents who demonstrate they are experiencing financial hardship. Learn more about your rights and the moratorium.
Department of Environmental Protection
To address the handling of excessive snowfall amounts, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) provides Snow Disposal Guidance to local governments and businesses. The online guidance assists with snow disposal site selection, site preparation and maintenance, and emergency snow disposal options that are protective of wetlands, drinking water, and waterbodies. MassDEP also has an online mapping tool to help communities identify possible snow disposal options locally.
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