By Rebecca Henely
An online campaign against sexual violence that began on a social networking site came to a park in Astoria last Thursday as two neighborhood women held a rally to fight the gropings that have been going on in the neighborhood.
“It’s not just me. It’s not just her,” said Kate Salute, referring to herself and Michelle Gutmann, who organized the rally. “This is happening to a lot of women in our community.”
While the demonstration was cut short due to sudden torrential rain, about 30 people and the neighborhood’s elected officials gathered at Athens Square Park, at 30th Street and 30th Avenue in Astoria, to take a stand against the assaults. So far, 33-year-old Miguel Hermenegildo has been arrested in connection with the gropings.
“When rallies like this are organized by the community, that sends a message,” City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) said.
Antonio Meloni, president of the New York Anti-Crime Agency, also held a self-defense seminar with Vallone, the victims’ advocacy group Safe Horizon and 114th Precinct Crime Prevention Officer John Glynn Aug. 17 at the Immaculate Conception School, Vallone’s office said.
The agency will offer self-defense classes in Astoria starting in September, Vallone’s office said. For more information, contact Meloni at 718-274-4926 or by e-mail at meloni25@iasny.org.
The experiences of Salute, 28, and Gutmann, 30, have been widely reported ever since they shared them on the social networking site whyleaveastoria.com. A little over a month ago, a bicycle-riding pervert rode up to Salute and grabbed her breasts before riding away.
“I yelled, I screamed, started kicking the air,” Salute said.
Gutmann, who is friendly with Salute, had had a similar incident happen to her shortly before in which a man on a bicycle came up behind her and slapped her on the buttocks before riding away. She suggested Salute post her story on whyleaveastoria.com. The post, which has 11 pages of comments, had such a huge response Salute created a groper reporting form.
“I was shocked how many women were coming forward with similar stories,” Gutmann said.
Salute and Gutmann have also created Astoria Against Violence, a group to raise awareness of the dangers of gropers and to prevent more attacks.
U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) said Salute and Gutmann have taken an insult and turned it into a rallying cry to stop this abuse from being perpetrated.
“It is not a prank. It is not tolerable,” Maloney said.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
