Caroline Criado-Perez’s speech on cyber-harassment at the Women’s Aid conference

"If there’s one thing I want to come out of what happened to me, it’s for the phrase “don’t feed the trolls” to be scrubbed from the annals of received wisdom."

By Caroline Criado-Perez

Before I begin, I just want to warn you all, that I will be quoting some of the messages I have received. They include offensive language and references to sexual violence, which may be triggering for some.

So I’d like to start off by giving you a bit of background into what led up to the harassment I received for over two weeks in July and August, because I think it’s important to see how little it takes to provoke this kind of abuse – it’s important to face up to how much of a problem we still have with widespread misogyny against any woman who dares to use her voice in public.

You need a good smashing up the arse
Call the cops we’ll rape them too
Everyone jump on the rape train – à @Ccriadoperez is the conductor
So looking forward to titty-fucking you later tonight – I’ve got an invitation to your anus
Some of us, me, don’t need consent to know what a bitch needs
Wouldn’t mind tying this bitch to my stove
U wanna rape with me? – this was said to another man, including me in the tweet
I always whisper “surprise” well not always, but it’s implied
Carpet-munching cunt needs to get raped
All that meat mmmmmm
Can I rape you?
Im gonna rape you, be very afraid – enjoying having the media at your doorstep? Better hope there isn’t a rapist disguised as a reporter
Silence is golden, but ducktape is silver
This joke is like a rapist. It’s going to score whether you like it or not
RAPE RAPE RAPE RAPE over and over again in capital letters
Seemingly supportive message with #hopeyougetraped at the end
Sent me pictures of sexual assaults, of domestic violence, of men’s faces twisted into deranged expressions, with words like “ain’t no brakes where we’re going” or “There ain’t no breaks on the rape train” superimposed over them.

@rapehernow disgusting bitch…should have been aborted with a hanger
SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH…OR ILL SHUT IT FOR YOU AND CHOKE IT WITH MY DICK
After strangulation, which organ in the female body remains warm after death? My cock
Stop breathing
I will find you – just think, it could be someone who knows you personally
@rapey1 WOMEN THAT TALK TOO MUCH NEED TO GET RAPED
rape her nice arse
Raped? I’d do a lot worse things than rape you!!
I’ve just got out of prison and would happily do more time to see you berried!! #tenfeetunder
I will find you and you don’t want to know what I will do, you’re pathetic, kill yourself before I do #godie
I’m going to pistol whip you over and over until you lose consciousness while your children(?) watch and then burn your flesh
I hope you get raped and die soon after #bitch
You’ll never get me…you’ll only feel my cock when it’s raping you slut
Open that cunt wide bitch…you about to feel da pain
I’ll paint your face white while you beg. [look up] To be released LOL
I have a sniper rifle aimed directly at your head currently. Any last words you fugly piece of shit? Watch out bitch.
UR DEAD AND GONE TONIGHT CUNT. KISS YOUR PUSSY GOODBYE AS WE BREAK IT IRREPARABLY
FIRST WE WILL MUTILATE YOUR GENITALS WITH SCISSORS, THEN SET YOUR HOUSE ON FIRE WHILE YOU BEG TO DIE TONIGHT. 23.00
And finally, from a man who repeatedly tweeted at me about how I was a witch: Best way to rape a witch, try and drown her first, then just as she is gagging for air, that is when you enter

A car bomb will go off outside your house at 11:40pm. I will be watching you to make sure it does
A BOMB HAS BEEN PLACED OUTSIDE YOUR HOME. IT WILL GO OFF AT EXACTLY 10:47PM ON A TIMER AND TRIGGER AND DESTROY EVERYTING
And even the joy of some racist abuse like: Perhaps if you keep your fucking spick bitch nose out of UK politics you wouldn’t get abuse