It was around 8:20am and I had just dropped off my child at his school. About a quarter of a mile down the school’s street, I waited to make a left turn onto a bigger, wider street that had two lanes per direction and a speed limit of 45 mph. It wasn’t a 4-way stop, so I was waiting until it was safe and clear to make that turn.
First, the lane closest to me cleared. I was thinking of turning left and then wait on the island before merging into the lane I needed to be in. But then cars, including a truck or bus or van started coming in from that lane so I continued to wait. Suddenly, I hear a long honk behind me, not short but a long, impatient one. I ignored it as it’s still not safe for me to make a left turn. Then the heard 4 or 5 more honks. This time I turn my head and look at the driver mouthing “what’s the problem” because he was really, really rude. He didn’t look at me. Finally it was clear to turn left and then I veered to the right turn lane (because I then had to turn right).
Then this white SUV got into my lane, driving very fast just inches from my car, honking. His dog, a golden brown hound was in the front, sticking his head out the window. I honked back as I rolled down my window ready to shout back in case he did too. He just drove on honking. I was shaken, felt violated and disrespected for doing the right thing– waiting to make a safe turn. I felt violated and disrespected when he honked not once but 4 or 5 times successively when I continued to wait until safe.
I felt discriminated. Did he know I was Asian and that’s why he didn’t care that he honked that way? He knew for sure when I turned my head and glared at him. He knew when he zoomed past me as if threatening to hit me. Unfortunately, I didn’t look at his plate number as I was just so shaken. I was having second thoughts about reporting. I didn’t think I’d find your site to report street harassment. initially I just wanted to talk to somebody–a friend, better if it’s an organization that deals with harassment. Then I found this site. I was saving second thoughts about reporting. I even forgave the other driver because he was probably mentally ill.
Is discrimination a form of mental illness? I’ve never experienced this in all 17 years I’ve been living in the U.S.– not this level of rudeness. I can’t help thinking what emboldened this driver to harass me the way he did. This is too much. I don’t feel safe. What if I had my children with me and they witnessed all this?
Location: Hatteras Street and Fall Brook Avenue, Woodland Hills, California
Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910
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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.
