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Not OK! Stranger On The Metro Can’t Take No For An Answer

Home My Streets, Too Not OK! Stranger On The Metro Can’t Take No For An Answer

Not OK! Stranger On The Metro Can’t Take No For An Answer

Jun 27, 2014 | Posted by User Submission |
street harassment dc

No means no!

Location: Orange Line – Rosslyn, Virginia
Time: Night (7:30pm-12am)

I was taking the New Carrollton train home and a man sat down next to me. I had worked late, and I normally prefer to sit alone anyways, so I was already tense. The man mumbled something about the train and red line, so I told him it went to Metro Center. I didn’t realize he was interested in knowing where I was going. He continued to try and engage me. He then rested his arm on my leg while he read the newspaper, and then moved his hand to my knee. I moved his hand and told him no.

He continued to try and talk to me, asking me about my plans for the night, if I had a boyfriend, if he could have my phone number, etc. I continued to rebuff his advances and he would not stop. He tried to put his arm around me, and I told him to stop touching me. At this point I noticed that he smelled slightly of alcohol.

After I exited the train, he followed me, trying to go with me. I moved away from him quickly and joined a crowd of people standing on the platform. By the time I left the group of people, he was gone, but I was still throughly shaken up.

Submitted 6/21/14 by “Hayley.”

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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. You can 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).

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