A few weeks ago, I was returning to the office from hand-delivering a package to another office. As I walked down 6th Street N.W. near the Verizon Center, this guy saw me coming but was about to walk into me regardless. I yelled, “EXCUSE ME!” loudly and he stopped. Instead of being apologetic for almost walking into me, he tried to get close to me in an attempt to physically threaten me, called me a “bitch” and a “little girl,” and told me to “grow up.”
Even though I was on the clock, I wore nothing identifying myself as representing my employer, and I was not going to take his verbal abuse. I called him out on his attempt to walk into me, and called him a “punk” and “trash.” And of course during all this, people stand around and watch but do nothing to help. I walked away while he continued to yell and make threats to my back.
People are going to read this and react in the way they want. There will be those who will think that I brought it upon myself, and those who will think that I should’ve been quiet. And had I reacted in a quiet and docile manner, there would’ve been those who would’ve told me to speak up. In the end, I can’t react in the way that others want me to react. I can only react in the way that I felt was best for me at the moment, and I will continue to do such.
– Anonymous
Location: Washington, DC, on 6th Street N.W. between G and H Streets N.W.
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