The reaction to the viral “catcalling” video released by Hollaback! is taking away from the problem at hand.

According to its website, Hollaback! is a non-profit movement aimed at ending street harassment. Recently,  a public service announcement video from Hollaback! went viral that featured a woman walking silently around New York City for 10 hours and receiving over 100 plus catcalls.

As the video spread, while some members of the public realized that the video highlights how large of an issue catcalling women is, an alarming  portion chose to criticize the video for other issues.

The biggest issue that people are quick to point out is that much of the video shows African-American and Hispanic men. Hollaback! was quick to defend themselves in stating that males of all color were calling out comments during the time the film was shot.

The video’s film editor Rob Bliss defended himself along with Hollaback!, stating repeatedly that they are sorry for any unintended racial bias. They hope to create a series showing all men of all ethnic and racial backgrounds doing the catcalling.

The decision of some to focus on the color of the men in the video is taking away from the fact that males can get away with verbally demeaning women. It is not just name-calling that was featured in the video.

At one point the women is followed by a guy for four minutes with him saying nothing just walking next to her. This itself comes off as threatening, and the danger did not just disappear after the video was filmed.

Shoshana B. Roberts, the women filmed walking down the street, reported receiving  multiple threat letters, in an interview with the Associated Press. The company Hollaback! and the director received similar letters

regarding Roberts.

The fact that people were sending threatening letters to someone for videotaping what she considered harassment is an issue. It is a threat to her life and others who helped out with the project. A woman should be able to call out what she feels is wrong without fear of getting threatened. The lack of concern for someone receiving threats for airing what she feels is wrong, is disappointing.

Unfortunately some media outlets have done little to help air the real issue of women being harassed out on the street. In fact, Fox News joined in the harassment. Bob Beckel was on the Fox News show The Five when he was supposed to comment on the issue. He stated, “I just think she got 100 catcalls. Let me add 101. Damn, baby, you’re a piece of woman.” It is an uncalled for comment and just further proves the point that Hollaback! is trying to show. There was a great opportunity for the show The Five to discuss a problem that many women face, but instead skated over it and added to the problem.

The Hollaback! non-profit movement had the potential to get the message out about street harassment through its public service video. Instead, the public chose to nitpick and focus on their personal issues with the video and ignore an important message. It is time people start focusing more on the larger issue instead of every little detail in the video. It is a real problem that many women every day face the harassment Roberts faced, and that is the

actual issue.