A group of activists and residents of Washington Heights called for action, after the video of the violent attack on a 15-year-old boy at a neighborhood subway station was released through social networks.
In the video you can see the images of the incident that has outraged the community and that took place last Friday around 5:30 in the afternoon, before the gaze of dozens of adults and other passengers.
The video shows how a young woman pulls the victim by her clothes, preventing her from getting on the A train, from West 181st Street to Washington Avenue. The assaulted, according to residents of the sector, has autism.
The young woman, along with two other people, began to yell racist insults at the young African-American, before beating him, among the three of them.
Paramedics took the young man to a nearby hospital in stable condition, but with bruises and a split lip.
“I think it is very important that when things like this happen, the community should come together to talk about the issue, and find a solution. I think there is a lot of division, I didn’t like the words they were using,” said Rosemary ‘Black Rose’ Severino, an activist. “That was very sad, seeing the adults recording. They pick up the phone and don’t call the authorities.”
“When I saw the video of this happening to a 15-year-old boy with autism, I thought of my nephews who also have autism and it broke my heart,” said Joshua Lopez, a Washington Heights resident. “And I also felt that I have to be out here, supporting the community and speaking out against this abuse and racism that is not accepted in any community.”
“I think we have an obligation to stop that, to help say something. One is an adult, I am terrified that how did this happen and that all the people on the train pass by and that no one helps,” said Lulu López, another Washington Heights resident.
Several people, including councilor Carmen De la Rosa, have shared messages against violence and a call for healthy community coexistence, especially among young people. The causes of this attack are not known and there have been no arrests.
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