Location: Georgia Avenue/Petworth, Washington, DC
Time:  Night (7:30pm-12am)

There is a group of men who constantly hang out on the block of 9th St and Upshur Street NW, near the post office. Nearly every single time I walk near that block or one block over on Georgia Avenue, I am catcalled. I live on 9th street, and that area is nearly impossible to avoid, as it is on the way to the Metro.

This seriously has happened to me nearly EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. since I moved to Petworth a year ago. It is the worst in the summer, and in the middle of the day, when not as many people are about, but it happens all the time, morning, midday, rush hour, etc.

I have confronted many of the men about their behavior and asked them not to talk to women on the street like that, which they just seem to either 1) find amusing or 2) get defensive about the “compliment” they’ve given me or 3) call me a bitch.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to deal with, giving me extremely aggressive feelings, and makes me ABSOLUTELY HATE living in DC.

Submitted 8/25/15 by “CL”

Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault? Share 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).