My name is Carmen Rodriguez. I’m a 28-year-old single mom working at Quick Bite Burgers. One Tuesday afternoon, a man in a Porsche threw a large Coke in my face because he claimed it was flat. I stood there, soaked and humiliated, while he sped off. A coworker had caught it all on video, including his license plate.

That night, I posted it on Facebook. The video went viral. People recognized him—Richard Blackwood, a wealthy financial advisor. He came back days later to offer hush money and a fake apology. When I refused, he threatened to sue me. I was terrified until a lawyer confirmed I had every right to share the video.

Then everything changed: my company promoted me, implemented better worker protections, and I became a local voice for service workers. Richard lost his job, and others began sharing their own stories.

Most of all, I stood tall for my daughter, Sofia, showing her that dignity isn’t something others give—it’s something you protect. The man who tried to humiliate me ended up helping me find my strength. I’ll never forget the moment I stopped being silent and discovered just how powerful that choice could be.