I walk home everyday. I have to pass by the Veterans Hospital at Damen and Taylor St. at about 3:30 p.m. I am usually harassed everyday by men waiting in cars parked along the sidewalk. My friend told me about HollaBack and I decided to "holla back" today.
As I passed a car with two men in it, one of the men said, "Hey baby, you lookin' fine." I stopped and politely said, "You shouldn't say things to women as they walk by, it scares them." He responded with, "You better be scared of me, baby." I walked a little further and remembered I should take a photo so I took out my camera and snapped a shot of the creep as he was getting out of the car. He started yelling at me. I shouted back, "I don't know you. Stop being rude." He called me a racist and I said "I don't care if you're white or black, you are a creep. Stop being rude and stop harassing women."
There were many, many people who witnessed the incident. Several workers from the VA were there. I felt very empowered, but now I'm afraid to walk by there tomorrow. I think I'll have my boyfriend meet me and walk me home.
~Submitted by Teri
