Location: Metro train – Orange Line towards Vienna
Time: Daytime (9:30am-3:30pm)

I was heading to the grocery store on my day off around 2 pm. I got on the train with myumbrella (sic) and purse, sitting in my spot of choice which is usually right where the chair behind me doesn’t face the same direction (I have had a bad experience with a person sitting behind me and actually touching and smelling myhair) (sic). The train was relatively empty, especially at the direction I was sitting. In fact, there was only one other person facing me at the end of the car. I made eye contact with this guy after noticing him staring at me. A few seconds later, he got up heading towards my seat. I thought to myself “please don’t let this guy hit on me..I’m only a few stops away from my destination..”. I felt a sense of relief when he decided to stop a seat in front of me and across the aisle. That sense of relief quickly turned into a since of confusion followed by apprehension. Something told me this creepy looking guy did not just get up for nothing. Sure enough, less than two minutes later, he’s fumbling with his pants and to my horror, pulls out his penis. Of course, I’m the ONLY person who can see this and before he has it fully exposed, I rush to the end of the car where people are sitting, hop off the train, and get in the next car when the train stops.

Metro’s Orange line

Unfortunately, I came to the realization that my umbrella was still on the seat because I’d left so quickly. Knowing that it would rain very soon, I knew I had to go back. So at the very next stop, I hopped back off and on to the same car with the creep whom I did not acknowledge when I grabbed my umbrella. I hurriedly hopped off the train AGAIN, and into the next car. I’m quite sure I looked absolutely crazy throughout all of this. I mean picture a frazzled looking girl running between cars. I did not make any notion as to what was occurring and there isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t wish I’d screamed at him, at the very least. When I got to my destination, I immediately informed the station manager of the train I’d just gotten off of. She didn’t look particularly surprised or interested as she simply asked me to describe the man. I told her what I knew and that was that. My information was never taken nor do I even know if this man was ever confronted. I wish I could say that this is the only type of harassment I’ve had like this in DC. It’s unfortunate, but I cannot.

Submitted on 7/19/12 by “MTM”

If you experience or have experienced sexual harassment on the DC Metro system:
Please consider reporting to Metro Transit Police: www.wmata.com/harassment; 202-962-2121.