We are tired of pretending this stuff doesn’t happen.

If the business leaders within skateboarding are not held accountable for the abusers they continue to support and promote, then skateboarding really is run by misogynists and enablers who continue to cover for their own, like a group of dirty cops.

Recent events are not new to skateboarding.

We are tired of hearing about and experiencing misogyny and abusive behavior. It is time to lift women up and make skateboarding more inclusive to the women who participate in and support skateboarding.

Ongoing allegations within skateboarding: 

• rape, sexual abuse, assault, coercion, harassment;
• domestic violence;
• emotional abuse; 
• victim blaming and shaming; 
• misogyny in the form of jokes about all of the above.

What if this was your mother? Sister? Wife? Daughter? ALL women matter, and they deserve respect. The lives, emotions and safety of women have value.

Silence is complicity.

We are tired of our male peers pretending that because they do not participate in bad behavior that it is not their problem to solve. Being in business with someone does not mean they are worthy of a free pass when choosing to harass, abuse and assault. 

The responsibility of addressing abuse and assault should not lay solely on women and survivors.

Skateboarding as a whole exists in a bubble that seems, at times, to be an alternate reality. Which other industries have allowed so many incidents to be swept under the rug involving sexual discrimination, harassment, abuse and victim blaming and shaming? These behaviors would get most if not all “regular” people fired from their jobs.

Why are those behaviors ignored (and, by default, accepted) in skateboarding?

Choose to take action now.

We call upon you to actively support and endorse ONLY those that promote a positive, healthy outlook and work to value boundaries and show respect for ALL humans.

• Actively speak out against misogyny and abuse in skateboarding. 
• Publicly pledge to support women in skateboarding and be an ally to women.
• Make it costly for riders to be abusive. Make it difficult. Make it uncool. 
• Work to educate yourselves and encourage others to become educated as well.