“I Was Assaulted At A DC Bar For Turning Down a Stranger’s Advances.” Photo via Flickr user constantskeptic.

Location: Midtown Nightclub in Dupont Circle
Time: Night (7:30pm-12am)

I am new to the DC area and a couple friends invited me to meet up with them at this nightclub. I made it to the club and was going up the stairs to meet my friends on the third floor. Two men in their mid-20’s yelled that I was “fine as hell” and cornered me. They starting touching me (one grabbed my thigh, the other my shoulders) and I resisted, shaking them off. This angered one man and he scratched my face while trying to grab me.

I should’ve alerted a bouncer or a police officer (though I get the feeling this happens frequently at this particular establishment), but I didn’t. I won’t be going back there.

Submitted 1/31/14 by “Katelyn.”
Emphases by CASS. 

NOTE FROM CASS: Sexual harassment and assault at bars and alcohol-serving establishments is a common — and completely intolerable — problem. CASS tackles the issue through our Safe Bars program, which trains staff at alcohol-serving establishments to recognize and respond to incidents of sexual harassment and assault. If you work at a bar, club, restaurant or other alcohol-serving establishment and you’d like to become a Safer Bar, we’d be happy to come and work with your staff. Contact zosia@collectiveactiondc.org for details.

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Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault? Submit your story to help raise awareness about the pervasiveness and harmful effects of street harassment. All submissions are posted anonymously unless otherwise specified.

If you experience or have experienced sexual harassment on the DC Metro system: Whether the event is happening at the moment or occurred months ago, we strongly encourage you to report to Metro Transit Police (MTP): www.wmata.com/harassment or 202-962-2121. Reporting helps identify suspects as well as commons trends in harassment. Recommended tip: Program MTP’s number into your phone so you can easily reach them when needed. If you need assistance in coping with public sexual harassment or assault, please contact the DC Rape Crisis Center (DCRCC) 24/7 crisis hotline at 202-333-RAPE (202-333-7279).