I was walking with my girl friend to another friend’s house at 3 a.m. along Red River Street. It was midsummer in Texas, so it was sweltering even that late, and we were prepared for the weather and the time of night with our tank tops and pajama bottoms (not that it matters). A lone car passed us and the driver honked at us, which I consider harassment. I responded with my middle fingers and to our mutual surprise, the car pulled a U-turn, which was terrifying. Instead of kidnapping us, they rolled down a window and pulled out a gun and began to shoot paint balls at us. They didn’t hit me, but they hit my friend a few times, and she had huge bruises where they hit her for days. At the end of the ordeal we were somehow left feeling like the stupid jerks of the situation which really puts the icing on the shitcake.
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
At the point in development when they start teaching kids in school to beware of strangers and generally keep themselves safe, they should also teach children not to become perpetrators of violence in attitude, speech, or action.
– Chunnuh
Location: Hancock Shopping Center in Austin, TX
Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea
