Photos of female Marines reportedly shared on social media

A true American hero, U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Marisa Woytek, has stepped forward to talk about the sexual harassment she suffered because of a Facebook group. The allegations against a group of U.S. Marines stems from a bombshell report that was published by Reveal. An online link to the the photos, as well as the names and units of the women pictured, was posted in January by a former Marine who was working for a defense contractor, The Washington Post reported Sunday. The contractor has since been relieved of his duties. Marine Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek told The Post that photos were taken from her Instagram account and posted to Marines United multiple times in the past six months, without her consent. “Even if I could, I’m never re-enlisting,” Woytek said. “Being sexually harassed online ruined the Marine Corps for me, and the experience.” Woytek said she was alerted to the photos by others on social media and were shown the comments that accompanied them. She said that many of the comments included allusions to sexual assault and rape, The Post reported. She said many female colleagues had experienced similar harassment but had been reluctant to speak out for fear of retaliation from the group’s members. With the War Horse report, she said, she and others “have a voice now.”