I was walking home one night and walked past a man going in the opposite direction of me. As he passed, he said, “Oh wow she’s beautiful.”

I carried on walking and ignored it but when I looked over my shoulder, he had turned around and was walking behind me. As I quickened my pace, he did, too. I crossed the road, and he followed behind me. I went to the nearest house I saw to make it seem like I was going home. When he saw me do this, he walked away down the closest road.

I had a sinking feeling from the moment I heard him say what I did. All I thought to myself was: you have to get away. Luckily he stopped, but that’s one of the scariest experiences I’ve had.

– Anonymous

I was having a rough morning, my phone got wet and was done for. I went to Starbucks for a quick pick-me-up and to get a Christmas gift for a friend as I was determined not to let a phone ruin my entire day. As I was leaving, a worker for a nearby hotel was picking up trash on the street. I smiled at him as I passed and as I walk past he says, “mmm, sexy”.

I did not say anything back and am so mad that I didn’t! I gave him a dirty look and shook my head and kept walking back to work. This experience made me feel embarrassed, degraded, mad, and offended. I am a person, how would you feel if someone did this to your daughter? Absolutely disgusted.

Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?

Educate people that this is not okay!!! This is not a compliment!!

– JMS

Location: Uptown Dallas, TX

 

I was on the R train in NYC last night. It was just me and this old guy in a suit and when the doors closed he sat right across from me. He was looking at his phone but I could tell he was taking a video of me. So he starts flicking his tongue at me and rubbing his groin. I instantly moved to the other side of the train and this asshole gets up and sits across from me again. I said, “This not ok. Stop it or I’m calling the cops.”

The next stop was coming up and he stood up to leave. When the train stops before he gets off he says, “Have a good night I’m going to jerk off to you later.”

This has to stop in NYC. With all of the harassment stuff going o I can’t believe this crap is still happening. I was so angry and frightened. I was glad I told him what I did but apparently he didn’t care.

Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?

Speak up.

– Alexa

Location: New York City, NY

Royal Taxi and Limo Services: They are located literally five houses away from where I live and men stand outside with their taxis (3-4) and harass young girls and comment on their bodies. They catcall etc, and when asked they told me (an excuse )—that it’s “good manners.” They admitted that they say beautiful and good night to every woman who passes by. Even after complaining to them, they didn’t change.

When i told them to stop they didn’t. I see them everyday and can’t look them in their eyes since some of them look like the age of my grandparents. They don’t understand how hard it is to walk by them in order to get to my destination. One guy even commented about my butt to his friends and they both started looking at me and winked. They really don’t appreciate women and their safety. If you are a woman, BOYCOTT this place.

Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?

Teach: It’s okay to speak back and not to be afraid.

– Anonymous

Location: Royal Taxi and Limo Services at Richmond Hill, New York