I was walking to my mom’s job after getting off the school bus when halfway there this guy in this tacky reflector tape red jogging suit comes up beside me with a whole bunch of $1’s in his hands as if he was counting them one by one. He asked me to get ice cream with him. I was a sophomore in high school and he looked like he was over 30 years old or slightly 40. I’ve always had a rather petite appearance and a face that made me look a few years younger than i really am but regardless this was a man clearly older than me and the fact that i was in a school uniform should have been a red flag alone that i was off limits. Obviously that meant nothing to him.
It creeped me out having some older man trying to, might as well, bribe me with sweets to be with him. I kept telling him no and just walked faster to get across the street. I prayed that he didn’t try to follow me, luckily he didn’t. I didn’t think anyone would ever try something like that because there were in fact police in the area and it was in broad daylight surrounded by other people shopping, no less.
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
I think there should be officers with Stop Street Harassment badges on every street looking out for other young ladies who are being harassed or objectified.
Nia H.
Location: Newark, NJ
Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea
