Photo by randomduckvia flickr

This is more of a success story about how Holla Back DC! subconsciously empowered me to fight back.

I was walking to the Dupont Circle metro around 2am and I felt completely safe because Connecticut Avenue was crowded with people leaving the bars or just hanging out outside. I felt so safe that I told my guy friend that he didn’t need to walk me to the metro because it was so close and he was parked in the opposite direction. I started walking down the street and an obviously drunk guy walks right up to me, grabs my hips, and says “You’re so sexy…” in a disgusting tone that made my skin crawl. I gave him the dirtiest look I could muster up and yelled “STOP” really loudly. He let go and I walked away feeling cheap and disgusting. I started analyzing how I was walking, what I was wearing, and what I could have done differently. It took me some time to realize that it doesn’t matter what I was wearing or if I was distracted while I was walking. His actions were inexcusable.

Honestly, if I hadn’t been reading Holla Back DC! from time to time I would have 1) convinced myself that this was my fault and 2) been afraid to speak up and probably would have just walked away from the situation.

I was thinking about it afterwards and I really wish I had said more to him. Something along the lines of “how dare you”or “that is so disrespectful” but I wonder if it would have been worth it.

Anyways, I just wanted to say THANK YOU to you and all of your contributors for showing me that my disgust is valid and for empowering me to fight back.

Submitted by AK on 4/15/2010

Location: M Street and Connecticut Ave NW

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