Lauren Ober

When the neighbor incident first happened, it didn't really feel like much of anything. Or maybe we were both just too stunned to take it all in.

When the neighbor incident first happened, it didn't really feel like much of anything. Or maybe we were both just too stunned to take it all in.

When the neighbor incident first happened, it didn't really feel like much of anything. Or maybe we were both just too stunned to take it all in.

I guess it started just like any other dog walk. Hannah and I leashed up our pups and set out from our house on our post-dinner stroll. It was early November of 2023, and I remember it was unseasonably warm. We headed off down the hill from our house towards our neighborhood park.

I guess it started just like any other dog walk. Hannah and I leashed up our pups and set out from our house on our post-dinner stroll. It was early November of 2023, and I remember it was unseasonably warm. We headed off down the hill from our house towards our neighborhood park.

I guess it started just like any other dog walk. Hannah and I leashed up our pups and set out from our house on our post-dinner stroll. It was early November of 2023, and I remember it was unseasonably warm. We headed off down the hill from our house towards our neighborhood park.

Stickers we're very much not used to seeing in our mixed-race, mixed-income neighborhood. Our vibe is more like, make DC the 51st state and no taxation without representation. These stickers were a combo platter of skulls and American flags.

Stickers we're very much not used to seeing in our mixed-race, mixed-income neighborhood. Our vibe is more like, make DC the 51st state and no taxation without representation. These stickers were a combo platter of skulls and American flags.

Stickers we're very much not used to seeing in our mixed-race, mixed-income neighborhood. Our vibe is more like, make DC the 51st state and no taxation without representation. These stickers were a combo platter of skulls and American flags.

There was a Roman numeral for three, the symbol of a militia group called the Three Percenters, and the pièce de résistance, a giant decal in the center of the back window that read, Free Our Patriots, J4, J6, meaning justice for January 6th.

There was a Roman numeral for three, the symbol of a militia group called the Three Percenters, and the pièce de résistance, a giant decal in the center of the back window that read, Free Our Patriots, J4, J6, meaning justice for January 6th.

There was a Roman numeral for three, the symbol of a militia group called the Three Percenters, and the pièce de résistance, a giant decal in the center of the back window that read, Free Our Patriots, J4, J6, meaning justice for January 6th.

Right after I said that moderately unneighborly thing, the passenger side window rolled down. Cigarette smoke curled out of the car. And the person inside shouted, justice for J6. To which Lauren said, you're in the wrong neighborhood for that, honey. And then the woman in the car said words I'm not going to forget anytime soon. We live here now. So suck it, bitch.

Right after I said that moderately unneighborly thing, the passenger side window rolled down. Cigarette smoke curled out of the car. And the person inside shouted, justice for J6. To which Lauren said, you're in the wrong neighborhood for that, honey. And then the woman in the car said words I'm not going to forget anytime soon. We live here now. So suck it, bitch.

Right after I said that moderately unneighborly thing, the passenger side window rolled down. Cigarette smoke curled out of the car. And the person inside shouted, justice for J6. To which Lauren said, you're in the wrong neighborhood for that, honey. And then the woman in the car said words I'm not going to forget anytime soon. We live here now. So suck it, bitch.

We'll get to who that person is soon enough, but we're not there yet. When we first encountered the woman from the car, we had no idea who we were dealing with. I just knew I was sufficiently put in my place. Well, okay, I remember saying to Hannah as we walked back home.

We'll get to who that person is soon enough, but we're not there yet. When we first encountered the woman from the car, we had no idea who we were dealing with. I just knew I was sufficiently put in my place. Well, okay, I remember saying to Hannah as we walked back home.

We'll get to who that person is soon enough, but we're not there yet. When we first encountered the woman from the car, we had no idea who we were dealing with. I just knew I was sufficiently put in my place. Well, okay, I remember saying to Hannah as we walked back home.

I remember being mad because I lost. Right. Because I didn't get the final word. Yeah. And because I just kept thinking, like, the whole combination of it felt bad to me. It's like, it's like, militia stickers, justice for J6, we live here, you just called me a name. You know, the whole thing was very out of place. And... I felt it was a little destabilizing.

I remember being mad because I lost. Right. Because I didn't get the final word. Yeah. And because I just kept thinking, like, the whole combination of it felt bad to me. It's like, it's like, militia stickers, justice for J6, we live here, you just called me a name. You know, the whole thing was very out of place. And... I felt it was a little destabilizing.