Widespread Attacks: Women in NYC Randomly Punched

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Women on Tiktok recount being punched in the face by men while walking NYC streets.Photo byauthor (licensed under CC BY 2.0)

Concerns are growing following reports of multiple women being punched by a stranger on the streets of New York.

A Twitter user shared four TikTok videos from different women, all recounting their experiences of being randomly attacked by a man in New York.

The post highlighted the alarming trend, stating, "It's shocking how several women are being punched in the face in NYC right now, as seen across TikTok."

Influencer Halley Kate was among the women who were physically assaulted. In a TikTok video, she tearfully revealed, "I was simply walking when a man unexpectedly struck me in the face."

Kate explained that she was engrossed in her phone, responding to an email, at the moment of the attack. This detail resonated with another TikTok user named Mikayla, who recounted a similar experience of being punched while also looking at her phone.

Stand-up comedian Sarah Harvard shared on Instagram that she, too, fell victim to a random attack.

In her post, she explained that initially, she refrained from filing a police report as she perceived it to be an isolated incident and doubted that the authorities would take significant action.

However, with the realization that these incidents may be happening more frequently, Harvard declared her intention to file a police report.

"If you have experienced an attack, I strongly suggest you take similar action." All reported attacks took place in downtown Manhattan, sparking conversations about the prevalence of violence against women.

These incidents highlighted how such attacks are often not classified as hate crimes. One user on Twitter, known as X, noted that these acts are not typically recognized as hate crimes because society tends to perceive violence against women as routine or unavoidable.

A woman shared a TikTok video on Monday capturing the moment when a man punched her in the face, showing a large bump on her head while tearfully recounting the incident.

In subsequent videos, she detailed how the assault, which caused her to briefly lose consciousness, occurred while she was walking her dogs.

She described seeing the man yelling at her before fleeing the scene.

In another video, she explained that she contacted the police, who collected her information. She also mentioned that she has since recovered from her injuries.

Another woman recounts being a victim of physical assault, describing how she was punched in the face.

The Parsons Fashion Design student shares that she was walking home from class engrossed in her phone when a man approached and struck her, resulting in a black eye, chipped tooth, and a concussion.

In a subsequent video, she reveals that the assault took place between West 14th St. and 5th Ave. as she was en route to Union Square. She mentions in another TikTok video that she reported the incident to the authorities.

From speaking with other women on social media who say they have experienced the same incident, she says her attacker "is the same that has hit a couple of other girls, but what is even scarier is there are other girls and our description of this man are completely different, meaning their are multiple men going around and doing this."

The student described a tall man over 6 feet with short dreads, appearing homeless. She advised city-goers to stay alert when out in public.

Similarly, a different woman on TikTok shared her encounter of being assaulted by a man in the SoHo neighborhood on March 17. She sought medical attention promptly and reported the incident to the police.

This aligns with the reported incidents by other women on TikTok, emphasizing the importance of staying cautious and taking necessary precautions while in public spaces.

More women have bravely come forward to share their stories of experiencing violence, adding to the alarming list. Recently, a woman took to TikTok to recount her harrowing encounter with a man who struck her arm while she was innocently walking to buy a water bottle for a friend.

The incident left her overwhelmed with anxiety, prompting her to anonymously report it to the authorities.

Authorities confirmed the arrest of Stora Skiboky, 40, for assaulting one of the victims near West 16th St. and 7th Ave. The New York City Police Department responded to the incident, shedding light on the ongoing issue of violence against women in public spaces.

Echoing these accounts, many women on social media have shared their own unsettling experiences of aggression from men on the streets of New York City.

A comment expressing frustration highlights the urgency for a societal shift: instead of advising women to be more cautious, the focus should be on preventing men from resorting to violence against women.