durgagawdestudio "Visit my profile for context: #MeToo #StandUpForYourself #LockUpBrianFranco "

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To all the Humans of the world, I am a Sculptor, Activist, Drag King and Educator from India. I was on my way to a petrol pump on my bike in Saligao, Goa, I saw a man (his name is Brian Franco which I later learnt). He was talking on the phone while riding his scooter and almost crashed into my bike. To which I asked him to get off his phone he started to verbally abuse me, basically saying, ‘ Who am I to tell him what to do?’ I did not want to engage, I drove away. He stalked me and cornered my bike such that I had to stop. He threw my bike keys away and started to hit my bike to intimidate me. I was not scared, I looked straight into his eyes. He then proceeded to grab my crotch and threw my phone saying, ‘ What will you do now?”. That is when I had had it. I couldn’t let someone molest me, I gave him a tight slap and what happened after that you saw in the video. A caring by-stander made the video and after I felt in a frenzy, the by-stander followed me and gave me the video and urged me to go to the cops. I went to the Saligao police station and showed the cops the video. To my surprise Brian Franco showed up at the police station complaining that I had hit him and ripped his clothes. I defended myself with pride. In that moment I wasn’t scared, not because I am strong and not because I had the ability to tackle someone 3 times my size, but only because the sad truth is this is not the worst that’s happened to me. I have been facing sexual abuse since I was a child and in so many ways but our judicial system is pitted against the inflicted, so is our culture. I had had enough and I fought back because someone like him did not scare me enough to choke up, but I have choked up in the past, not knowing how to say no, not knowing how to fight back, not knowing if I could fight back. There are so many others like him in this world. This is not about being a man, woman, trans, genderfluid, goan, Indian, it’s not about being an insider or outsider, it’s about being human. He is out on bail. He needs to be locked up. Help me by sharing this video. #metoo #standupforyourself #lockupbrianfranco #therainbowrevolution

A post shared by Durga Gawde Studio (@durgagawdestudio) on Jun 5, 2019 at 5:45am PDT

#SexualHarassment https://t.co/vXqnBlafPV pic.twitter.com/TIdGXT90dF

— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) June 5, 2019

Despite the heinous act shown in this video, the accused is still out on bail. #LockUpBrianFranco#DurgaGawde #StandUpForYourself https://t.co/kJ3BgUXOVK

— iDiva (@iDivaOfficial) June 6, 2019

I'M NOT A VICTIM, I FOUGHT BACK AND STOOD UP FOR MYSELF. My assaulter is out on bail and needs to be behind bars. Watch and read the description for context: https://t.co/CuMPHnvtSH#metoo #standupforyourself #lockupbrianfranco #therainbowrevolution

— Durga Gawde (@durgagawde) June 6, 2019

Mumbai artist, Durga Gawde rages on social media about assault in Goa, post goes viral | reports @PrakashWKamat https://t.co/lh6HRC3lyN

— The Hindu-Mumbai (@THMumbai) June 7, 2019

Durga Gawde was attacked and harassed in Goa, and she fought back. Now her attacker, who kept harassing her even within the police station, is out on bail. She's a fighter, not a victim. But she needs help to shine a light on this.#lockupbrianfranco https://t.co/NAjZ3ViJ3G

— Jesal Mehta (@arachnic) June 5, 2019

When Durga Gawde was Molested by Brain Franco she decided to stand up for herself by lodging a complaint to take the Perpetrator Down. @mymalishka speaks with Senior Inspector Santosh Desai about the incident#MeToo #StandUpForYourself #LockUpBrianFranco #TheRainbowRevolution pic.twitter.com/6oyFcJHqea

— Red FM Mumbai (@RedFM_Mumbai) June 7, 2019

Artist #DurgaGawde was sexually and physically assaulted on a busy road in North Goa after she complained about him for talking on the phone while driving and ramming into her vehicle.#StandUpForYourself #RainbowRevolutionhttps://t.co/ZgtHZTQJR1

— mid-day (@mid_day) June 7, 2019