Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Sexual harassment at Coachella: Is it everywhere?
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
)
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Coachella
)
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella
)
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
)
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
)
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
)
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella
)
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella
)
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella
)
Fans watch as Beyonce performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California on April 14, 2018.
(
KYLE GRILLOT/AFP/Getty Images
)
David Byrne performs during the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella
)
A story in Teen Vogue is sparking conversation about female safety at Coachella. The author says that of the 54 women she interviewed, every one of them "had a story of sexual assault or harassment that occurred this year at Coachella."
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella
)
Vera Papisova, who attended the first weekend of the 2018 Coachella festival, writes:
"This year's Coachella experience was also full of moments I never saw on Instagram: being repeatedly violated by strangers. In the three days I was at Coachella, I only spent a total of 10 hours at the actual festival... During the 10 hours I was reporting on this story, I was groped 22 times."
David Byrne performs during the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella
)
KPCC reached out to representatives at Goldenvoice, Coachella's promoter, for comment on the Teen Vogue story but have not yet received a response.
During this second weekend of Coachella, Indio Police Sgt. Dan Marshall says there has been at least one arrest for a sexual crime.
Sponsored message
"A person was touched inappropriately over the clothing and we affected an arrest. So we take that very seriously, and we don't want anybody to come out here and feel that they're not safe but worse than that, we don't want anybody to come out here and feel that if something does happen to them that they can't come to the police. That is most certainly not the case," Marshall told KPCC.
Festivalgoers attend the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California.
(
Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella
)
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
