I used to live near Howard University on a charming block with great families on either side of me. It was about a 20 minute walk to the Shaw-Howard Metro, and I had catcalls and degrading comments yelled at me every day. I just ignored them and walked faster.

One day, a man in a truck slowed down and drove next to me for three blocks, saying some of the most racist, vulgar things I had ever heard, including, “Hey, China girl, come suck my eggroll.” (I’m Japanese American)

Very unlike me, I finally flipped him off as I turned the corner, thinking he would just drive away. Instead, he made an abrupt turn to follow me the WRONG way down a one-way street. He told me that if I don’t like people looking at me, I should go back to my own country.

Then it got really creepy. He told me he knew who I was exactly where I lived and said my address. He said he’d come find me so I’d better not go to sleep.

I ran around another corner and finally got away from him. Luckily, there was a cop on that corner and I gave him a description of the man and his vehicle. He never did come by my place but needless to say I moved as soon as possible.

No woman, anywhere, deserves treatment like this.

Location: 1st & W St NW

Submitted by Anonymous

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