HollabackPhilly responds to 'street-harassing billboard' with new tourism ad
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
via <a href="http://www.feministpublicworks.org/">Feminist Public Works</a>
In 2012, VisitPhilly, the city's tourism marketing company, installed a billboard in Center City. It read "Dear Walking This Way: I like the way you move it move it. With Love, Philadelphia XOXO," and its message prompted HollabackPhilly, an organization combatting street harassment, to put up an ad of its own.
On its website, Hollaback had this to say about the ad:
GPTMC [now known as VisitPhilly] justified this ad by saying that is is a play on a lyric from the song "I Like to Move It" from Madagascar 2. HollabackPHILLY, however, pointed out that there is a significant difference between "I like to move it move it" (a person having fun dancing) and "I like the way you move it move it" (unwanted commentary on passersby).
Today, as part of an anti-street harassment ad campaign, HollabackPhilly announced a new ad at a bus shelter, located at 16th and JFK, that's a play on the original: "Dear Walking This Way: Welcome to the city of brotherly love (and sisterly affection). Our streets are your streets. With love (and respect), Philadelphia XOXO. PS: #ENDSH."
HollabackPhilly is accepting feedback on both this ad and its general campaign, so if you have something to say, go here.
