“I witnessed a man talk about taking advantage of an intoxicated woman on the Metro. What can we do to intervene?”
Location: Blue Line, Pentagon Metro Station
Time: Night (7:30pm-12am)
This happened a year ago. My friend and I were riding home on Metro after class, around 10pm. Across the aisle from us (the seats that face each other) was a girl who had a little too much fun at happy hour. She was barely staying awake. As we were approaching Pentagon station, she got up to get out. As people were filing out, a middle-aged man who was sitting next to us got up, bent down and commented to me and my friend about “going home with her tonight,” and got off the train just as the doors were closing. As the train pulled away we could see him go up and talk to her.
We were stunned. I wanted to help but I did not know what to do. My stop was the next one but what would I have reported? Yes he was unbelievably inappropriate but I don’t feel like I saw enough. There interaction could have ended on the platform for all I know. Still bothers me when I think about it. Watched the news for days afterward seeing if anything did happen and was reported to police. Luckily I never heard of anything.
I would appreciate some guidance on what I could have done to help her in case I ever witness this in the future.
Emphases by CASS.
Submitted 5/6/13 by Anonymous
Sex without consent = sexual assault; Don’t Be That Guy Campaign
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