Street Harassed in Petworth: “I Feel Demeaned and Disrespected. I am Angry that I Cannot Exercise and Run Errands without Worrying about My Safety.”
Location: Georgia Avenue/Petworth Metro Stop, Washington, DC
Time: Night (7:30pm-12am)
Last night in the Georgia Ave/Petworth area, I was leaving a Yoga class and stopped briefly on the side walk to look up the nearest bus stop. A man, slurring his words, said, “How about 30 cents, beautiful?” I kept walking, and another man walked out of a take out restaurant and yelled, “Run away, little girl! Run!” as he followed me a few paces. Two other men made obscene gestures with their tongues while making sexual remarks. The final man I encountered told me to “go home.” Too afraid to wait for the bus, I called my boyfriend and talked to him until I reached the Metro. Very shaken, I tried to hide my tears as I rode the Metro home. I feel demeaned and disrespected. I am angry that I cannot exercise and run errands without worrying about my safety. The culture of street harassment NEEDS to change.
Submitted 5/5/15 by “Anonymous.”
Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault? Share your story to help raise awareness about the pervasiveness and harmful effects of street harassment. All submissions are posted anonymously unless otherwise specified.
If you experience or have experienced sexual harassment on the DC Metro system: Whether the event is happening at the moment or occurred months ago, we strongly encourage you to report to Metro Transit Police (MTP): www.wmata.com/harassment or 202-962-2121. Reporting helps identify suspects as well as commons trends in harassment. You can program MTP’s number into your phone so you can easily reach them when needed.
If you need assistance in coping with public sexual harassment or assault, please contact the DC Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC) 24/7 crisis hotline at 202-333-RAPE (202-333-7279).
