I was walking to work, down K street, when I passed a Street Sense vendor. I have never, never – I mean literally never – had a negative experience with a S.S. vendor.

So I walk by, and he starts hollering at me “Girl, your dress is TIGHT. Looking GOOD. Looking GREAT. Mmm, mmm, mmm, that’s right, keep moving it like that .”

I don’t turn around, I don’t stop, I don’t do anything – just keep crossing the street. But ugh! Ugh, ugh ugh! I’m generally very good at comebacks and what-have-you, and actually have had to have friends “pull me off” when I’m about to get into a confrontation with some guy who says or does something inappropriate in public, but I just didn’t know how to react. It was busy, since it was rush hour, and the thought of a million and nine passer-by see me lose my cool was enough to keep me quiet.

But. What. The. Hell. If you want to promote your Street Sense newspaper, and get more people to buy them (I buy them ALL THE TIME), sexually harassing women on the street is probably not the way to do it. I’m considering contacting the Street Sense people, but I also don’t want to cause someone to lose gainful employment when they might not be able to find it otherwise.

I’ve been harassed on the street quite a bit since moving to D.C., but this one was most upsetting. Maybe it’s because I didn’t respond in any way, maybe it’s because this guy was OFFICIALLY ON THE CLOCK, or maybe because I felt so pretty this morning and this guy tried to ruin it for me (I tend to not participate in ‘casual fridays,’ since I think jeans are boring).

Well, it’s 8:46 a.m., and the enjoyability level of my day has been adversely impacted. Super.

Submitted by Hanna on 6/25/2010

Location: Connecticut and K

Time of Harassment: Morning Rush Hour (5A-9:30A)

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