Skate Safe Space is calling out what it describes as a serious problem within the skateboarding community.
They are saying that they have received numerous accounts involving alleged sexual abuse, harassment and violence against women.
The organization opened its post with a blunt message: “We have had enough. Women have had enough. Skateboarders. Do better.”
The group said it had received what it described as horror stories from women connected to skateboarding and decided to share them publicly. It specifically addressed men in the community, saying they have an important role in confronting what is happening around them.
According to Skate Safe Space, it has received 10 separate claims involving sexual abuse at Southbank Skatepark in London. The accounts it described included allegations involving underage girls, rape and coercive sexual conduct involving drugs and alcohol.
The organization also said it had heard reports of sexual abuse and harassment occurring around skate events, premieres, jams and other gatherings aimed at skateboarders.
But the allegations themselves were only part of what Skate Safe Space wanted to discuss.
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The organization said it was also concerned about what happens after women speak about their experiences. According to its post, some victims have faced disbelief, pressure, harassment and silence from people around them.
One of the examples involved allegations previously associated with Shubz Skate. Skate Safe Space described claims involving a group of young male skaters who allegedly took a young woman to a party while she was under the influence of substances before sexually assaulting her. The organization said some members of the group allegedly watched and prevented others from intervening.
Skate Safe Space also claimed that after the woman spoke about what happened, she faced death threats, stalking and other harassment. The organization said this eventually caused her to stop pursuing the matter.
It then questioned what happened afterward.
According to the post, some of the men who had been pushed out of the community later returned and were once again welcomed and celebrated.
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That issue of people returning to skateboarding circles is a recurring concern in the statement.
Skate Safe Space described another alleged incident involving a female skateboarder who had been drinking with male members of the Southbank community. One man reportedly offered to walk her toward Waterloo station so she could get there safely.
According to the account shared by the organization, he allegedly assaulted her near the skatepark before leaving her to continue toward the station alone.
Skate Safe Space said the woman later told some of his friends what had allegedly happened, but claimed they chose not to act. The organization also alleged that the man continues to appear at Southbank.
Another account involved a female skateboarder who allegedly experienced sexual assault and harassment from a shop owner. Skate Safe Space said she eventually stepped away from her sponsorship following the alleged incidents.
The organization said that after she spoke about what happened, she received messages demanding evidence and proof. Some people allegedly accused her of trying to damage the man's business.
Then there was an account involving three women at a house party attended by London skateboarders.
Skate Safe Space alleged that one male skateboarder physically attacked the women, including throwing glass bottles. According to the organization, one woman suffered a cut near her eyebrow while another narrowly avoided being struck in the head.
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Skate Safe Space said the man involved continues to receive praise and recognition within the community.
The organization argues that these accounts should not be viewed as isolated incidents.
Its post repeatedly returns to one central question: why did people around these situations not do more?
For Skate Safe Space, the answer involves more than the individuals accused of wrongdoing. It says the people who witness abusive behavior, hear accusations or learn about an incident also have a responsibility to take women seriously.
That puts particular attention on male skateboarders.
The organization directly told men in skateboarding that they need to pay attention to what women are saying and examine how they respond when allegations are brought to them.
Its criticism is not simply about individual acts of alleged abuse. It is also about the people who allegedly remain silent, defend friends, dismiss accusations or continue treating accused individuals as part of the community without addressing the claims.
The post describes this as complicity.
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Skate Safe Space says women should not have to leave skateboarding, give up sponsorship opportunities or distance themselves from their communities because of alleged abuse or harassment.
The organization ended its statement with a simple message aimed at skateboarders: “Do better.”
The allegations described by Skate Safe Space are serious and should be treated as allegations unless independently established. The post itself is a call for people within skateboarding to take reports of sexual abuse and harassment seriously and to consider what responsibility bystanders and community members have when they hear them.
For the women who have shared their experiences with the organization, Skate Safe Space says the problem is not just what allegedly happened to them.
It is what happened after they spoke.
Skate Safe Space Posted:
"We have had enough.
Women have had enough.
Skateboarders. Do better.
Edit - timeline update: the assault case mentioned 6* years ago happened 10* years ago (2016)"