I live in a suburban neighborhood in Portland, OR. I was walking alone to a corner store a few blocks from my house, when I saw a group of four young men standing in front of the door. I heard them saying nasty things under their breath as I moved past them into the store but I just ignored it. They began following me around the store through the aisles. I made a purchase and walked out, and they followed me. Still, I said nothing and just kept walking.

They began to follow me down the street and started yelling, “You think you’re too good to talk to us, bitch?” Then they began threatening to rape me, screaming, “I’ll stick my dick up your ass! You’ll be even quieter with 4 cocks in your mouth!” I couldn’t believe it, I hadn’t done or said anything at all, my only apparent crime was walking into a store.

I was so scared as they followed me down the dark street, I was shaking. I began looking for houses with lights on inside so I could run up and bang on the door for help. Finally they stopped and began to walk in the other direction. I started running and didn’t stop until I got home where I locked the doors, got out my gun and called my husband. He came home with some male friends and they went back up to the store to look for the men but they were gone. I haven’t walked up to that store since.

I’m scared to walk around my own neighborhood unless I’m carrying my gun. That’s what its come to. I’d like to think this was an isolated incident but similar things have happened to me before. I guess that’s what you get for simply being female. I don’t believe that violence should be answered with more violence, but God help the next man that does it.

– anonymous

Location: Portland, OR

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