Hello folks,
As you probably know, Im Anna; I am not here to rant about anything, but I want to extend a warning to ALL WOMEN about crime. Sadly, circumstances created a less than ideal living area for me. I am a single white (mentally disabled) woman, who has to reside here in an entirely african-amercian neighborhood in Memphis (a city which does have one of the highest crime rates in the nation, and is known for being extremely dangerous) However, this does not excuse the fact that I was assaulted a week ago today in a Walgreens parking lot (which is less than a mile from my house)
Ladies! No matter how much you think "It cant happen to me" Let me let you know that IT CAN!
My assault has (unfortuantely) two parts to it, the specific reason that I was targeted was because the person who assaulted me thought that I was a (gay, transgenger) or something white male, when of course I am COMPETLEY AND TOTALLY A HETOROSEXUAL WOMAN! However, from the back, it is difficult to tell, because I do have short hair (however I feel that as a human being I have the right to have short hair) and not be threatened with my life.
Anyway, to go on with what happened, last Wednesday a little before dusk, I drove down to Walgreens just to purchase a pack of cigarrettes. I was only in the store perhaps five minutes, however when I was walking to my car, I heard shouting coming from a grayish SUV which was parked a few feet away from me. The shouting was coming from a young african american male who was in the back seat. There was also an african american female in the front seat of the car.
The male was screaming at me (he wanted to know) (What the hell I was) Through other obscenties, he yelled, (are you a cunt, fag,--what)? He also mentioned that he had been "watching me" I was shocked, I had never seen these people in my entire life! I had no idea who they were, so I answered back, (look i dont know you people, just mind your business and go on) Well, this wasnt enough for the assaulant. So finally as he was still screaming at me, I had to say Look Just Fuck off)
Well, that was my final word, (people who have been treatened with assault or crime always say How fast it happened) and that is so true.. It all happened in what seemed like a split second. Suddenly the screaming, very irrational african american male sprinted from the backseat of his car over to my vechile. He first stopped on the sidewalk in front of me, ranting and yelling that (HE HAD A GUN ON HIM AND THAT HE WAS GONNA POP A CAP IN ME NOW) If I Drove away. I said nothing, but I only had a second to get into my car and lock the doors before he was on the passenger side of my car, he started pulling on the door handle TRYING TO GET IN, so he then rammed on my window and threatened my life again. (Screaming once again that he had a gun and that he would shot me at Point blank range through my window if I did not roll it down)
I
did what he said, as he screamed more obsentities at me, demanding that I answer him as to (who I was) making it clear to me, that i would not get away if i did not answer. So, I remembered as quickly as a could the things that I have seen on crime prevention shows or shows about how to handle an irrational assaulant. I knew i had to try and calm him down, if i wanted my life, or else the situation would have esculated. (and yes by Gods Grace I was able to keep my head about me) so I calmly said, (Look, I really apologize (even though i had done nothing) Im a white woman okay, now, please you really need to chill, i am sorry if you felt disrespect, but U know it isnt worth killing me, Im not gay. just please calm down...
The crummy thing is that the other person who was in the same vechile, the african american female did nothing, I assume that she was probably laughing the entire time.. Finally, after a third death threat.. Where the assaulant, screamed.. something to the effect of.. (Hurry the hell up and get your nasty cunt ass out of here and if I EVER SEE YOU at this store Again, I WILL KILL YOU) Only then did the other occupant of the vechile step out and pull the male away.. just casually telling him to (come on) as if nothing had ever taken place.
As, i drove away, I could still hear endless obsentities coming from his mouth and i am sure i could see a bit of a smirky grin on the female occupants face.
So, as you might imagine I was pretty shaken up, I decided to go ahead and call the police (only thinking that I might be able to save someone else from going through the same thing) I didnt think the police would take it seriously.. however to my surprise.. they took it very seriously. Two cops came over and they took a report.
As i said it has been a week today, and this has totally altered a lot of things, I have not been able to sleep in my bedroom, just out of fear, so I have moved to the couch and now sleep there. Obviously, i can never go back to the Walgreens where the incident occured, because I took this assaulants final death threat VERY SERIOUSLY.. so, i have to drive a long long way out of my way to get my prescriptions at another walgreens from now on.. and I have a lot of prescriptions.. I havent been able to talk to a professional yet about what happened, but I hope that i get to soon.
This assault has changed the way I trust in God, changed just a lot of things. I am glad that I did get away with my life of course and did not die last week in the parking lot or obviously i wouldnt be typing this to you (my fellow bloggers.
Again, ladies, whereever you live, it can still happen.. so please ladies watch and be aware of your surroundings AT ALL TIMES! even if you do not live in a high crime area!!
I am hoping that i will be able to move from this neighborhood soon, my accountant is working on it, sadly because i am disabled and only have so much money.. we have a lot of obstacltes when it comes to getting my out of this crime ridden area.... but I am trying desperatly to take (one day at a time) I take mace with me now wherever i go.. and hope that moving will be possible for me in the near future..
Peace, my blogging friends and Please be careful out there....HOWEVER..
