I am walking early this 4th of July morning to get to the train station, and it seems like it’s going to be an uneventful walk. I spoke too soon.

This maroon car sidles next to me and matches my pace. “Baby, where you walkin’ to?” the driver asks. I develop tunnel vision and act like he doesn’t exist.

“Baby, where you riding [sic] to?” he asks again. Once again, treat him like he doesn’t exist.

The driver finally gave up and drove off, turning left onto Douglas Street NE. He turned onto the street slowly, making me think he was going to pull over and continue to watch me walk or do a three-point turn and come back around. I pulled out my phone just in case he was going to try something, but luckily he was gone for good.

I did catch the license plate number, but since I forgot to write it down I forgot it. I believe it was BX 9456 or 9546, DC plates.

And to anyone who thinks men do this because of how women are dressed, think again—I was wearing a t-shirt with the logo of my martial arts studio on it, martial arts pants, and sneakers. I was not dressed to impress, nor was I dressed in a revealing manner. Men target women because they see us as objects to ogle. It has nothing to do with how we dress. I was not out to get men’s attention, I just wanted to make it to my martial arts class on time.

Location: 10th NE & Douglas NE

Submitted by Anonymous

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