A transgender woman said she videotaped a passenger on the 4 express train who assaulted her because of her gender identity Thursday.
The recording, reportedly taken on April 28 by activist Pearl Love, was posted on Facebook Monday and was shared over 1,300 times by Wednesday evening. Love wrote in her post that she was on her way to an event for the Trans Latina network around 4:30 p.m. when she changed trains at 125th Street. She said the woman started to taunt her, employing both transphobic and racial slurs. “I ignored her and kept reading my book,” Love wrote.
When the train reached 86th Street, Love said the abuse became more intense. That’s when she reached for her phone to start recording.
(Warning: video contains graphic language)
The video begins with the woman taunting Love’s genitalia and calling her a “motherf—er.” As the abuse continues, the woman suddenly stands up and seems to smack the camera out of Love’s hands, where the footage ends.
From there, Love said the woman chased her around the train as onlookers simply watched.
“When I retreated, she threw all my stuff on the floor and chased me around the train and say she is going to find a stick to hit me,” Love wrote. “It was a crowded train and everyone heard it but no one helped me. Guys acting like nothing happened. For 5 min.
“Then when the train stop on 42 st. She got out of train but keep yelling at me, I recorded 4 videos around 3.5 min. Thanks to an older guy who helped me pick my stuff up and put it back my bag, and said sorry to me.”
Public Advocate Letitia James provided a statement to DNAinfo Tuesday evening condemning the attack.
“I am horrified by the video showing transphobic and racist epithets and physical violence targeted at a transwoman riding the New York City subway as other riders sat by,” James said.
“I encourage all New Yorkers to speak out against any act of bigotry or intolerance especially when it’s staring you in the face.”
Love told DNAinfo that she would not be filing a police report, but called the act a “hate crime.”
“It’s very difficult to be transgender,” Love told DNAinfo. “You just learn to walk away and not do anything.”
