Halifax cabbie kicks out fare for verbally harassing women

‘They don’t deserve a ride,’ driver says of catcalling passengers

HALIFAX — A Halifax taxi driver who is being praised online for kicking a catcaller out of his cab said he took a stand because “I can’t let people do such things.”

Kourosh Hemmat, a Casino Taxi driver, said he asked a man who was verbally harassing a woman on the street to get out of his cab this past weekend in the city’s south end.

Shortly afterwards, he picked up Toronto photographer Alyson Hardwick and mentioned the story to her. She then tweeted about it, calling Hemmat “a true ally.” On Monday, Hemmat said he had no

“I’m hoping they’ll learn from their mistake,” Kourosh Hemmat said of the men he kicked out of his taxi.

idea she had shared the story online.

When asked how he felt about Hardwick’s appreciation, Hemmat said, “I’m OK as long as we can fix this problem.”

Hemmat said he picked up four men just before midnight on Saturday. Three sat in the back and one in the passenger seat.

Right away, Hemmat said the man sitting directly behind him leaned out of the car window when he saw a woman on the other side of the street and began to harass her to get in the cab with them.

Hemmat is originally from Iran and has a background in mechanical engineering. He has been living in Halifax for seven years and driving a taxi for six. He said he just learned the term “catcalling” from Hardwick. When the woman heard the yells, Hemmat said he saw her frown and turn away from the cab.

“I said, ‘You are not supposed to talk like that in my car, in a taxi … sorry, I’m not giving you any service. Just leave the car,’ ” Hemmat recalled.

The man got out of the car, slamming the door behind him, while two others left in silence, Hemmat said. But he said the man in the front seat “felt bad” and apologized for his friend’s behaviour. Hemmat said he was happy at least one member of the group apologized, and hopes he will talk with the catcaller about why such street harassment is unacceptable.

“It’s my personality — I can’t let people do such things. I can’t not do anything,” Hemmat said.

Women who are harassed “cannot feel safe, and safety for everyone is first,” he added. This was not the first time Hemmat said he has dealt with catcallers in his taxi, though he said it doesn’t happen often. A few months ago, Hemmat said he picked up a group of men in front of a Halifax bar and one of them started verbally harassing a woman in line. Hemmat said a man who was with the woman then came over to the cab, “very aggressive and mad,” and told him to let the catcaller out. When Hemmat said no, assuming he would be placing the passenger in danger, the man kicked a “massive dent” into the driver’s-side door. Hemmat had the door repaired, but a slight mark is still visible.

Hemmat said he quickly drove away to escape the situation, but after a block or so he asked the group to get out of the car.

CABBIE from A1