Massive shout-out to the solo traveler who stepped in while I was being harassed
So this happened yesterday.
I was going home after a conference and my colleague and I were hanging out in Frankfurt Airport waiting for our flight. She left to go to the bathroom, leaving me with all our luggage. For about ten minutes prior to this, a guy a few seats away had been trying to get our attention, but we ignored him.
Just as my colleague walked away, I heard the guy say in German, "Hey, do you want a massage? I give good massages." I looked over--and he's furiously masturbating at me and leering.
I jumped up, screamed "FUCK OFF, CREEPER," threw all our luggage across my back and stumbled over to the nearest employee, a guy who was standing by the gate (hereafter known as Gate Guy). I speak German but I was upset and "That asshole stranger is masturbating at me" isn't a sentence I've ever had cause to say so I was stumbling over my words. What I hadn't realized was that a (German) solo traveling guy had seen the whole thing and followed me to the gate. When he saw I was having a hard time, he stepped in and said to Gate Guy "That man over there is harassing these women and we need to get the police involved. Where are the police?" Gate Guy wasn't allowed to leave his post, but told us where to ring for the cops; unfortunately I couldn't leave all our stuff because airports. So the German man rang the police, explained the situation, and then led the police chase after the masturbator, who at that point had gotten up and walked away. It was all very dramatic.
Once we saw the police grab the masturbator, the German man passed by me on his way back to the gate. I tried to thank him for his help, but he waved me off and said "Just feel safe."
Every woman knows that horrible, sinking feeling of powerlessness and dread when something bad has just happened and you're trying to explain it to someone with the power to handle it, hoping the whole time they believe you. That this random solo traveler stepped up to help--not only when I was struggling in my second language, but also to literally lead the chase after the pervert--was really validating and so appreciated. Major, major props to that guy. Wherever he is, I wish him piles of cash and cheap flights for forever.
Just a reminder to look out for each other :D. If you see someone struggling and being harassed, step up, say something, help. It's appreciated!
Edit: Also, women, please don't avoid Frankfurt because of the masturbator. Avoid Frankfurt because it's shit and boring and basically every other city in Germany is better unless you have a bank fetish.
Submitted January 19, 2019 at 04:46PM by peachykeenz http://bit.ly/2W7qsKa
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