A Muslim woman who works for New York City's transit system was attacked at Grand Central Terminal, according to CBS News. The 45-year-old woman was wearing a head-covering when she was attacked, and a witness told CBS that the woman's attacker called her a "terrorist."
CBS further reports that the suspected attacker followed the woman as she exited a train before pushing her down the stairs, calling her a "terrorist," and saying that the woman should not be working in New York City. The woman, who has not been publicly identified, was off-duty but wearing her uniform when she was assaulted. A witness to the crime intervened, but police are still looking for the assailant, according to CBS.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement about the attack on Sunday, contextualizing the terrible event in a series of bigoted crimes "targeting the MTA" since the election of Donald Trump, who has said he intends to make Muslim Americans report themselves to a registry.
"The incident follows a wave of bias events targeting the MTA since the Presidential election. On Saturday, a No. 1 Train was found to have been vandalized, with multiple swastikas graffitied on its interior. Last week, KKK fliers and business cards were distributed at the Patchogue and Hampton Bay Stations on the Long Island Rail Road," the statement reads.
Regarding the assault on the Muslim MTA employee, Cuomo's statement says:
This is the great state of New York – we welcome people of all cultures, customs and creeds with open arms. We do not allow intolerance or fear to divide us because we know diversity is our strength and we are at our best when we stand united. I have directed the MTA, State Police and Division of Human Rights to work with local law enforcement to investigate these matters. These acts of hate will be pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and those responsible will be held accountable.
New York will continue to set the example for the nation – safeguarding our diversity and our differences, and rooting out bigotry and hatred wherever it exists. The work of the Hate Crimes Task Force has never been more urgent and we will continue to crack down on this type of criminal behavior. I wish a speedy recovery for the victim, and want to let her know we are seeking justice for her and for all New Yorkers.
The statement also says that the woman who was attacked had both her ankle and knee injured and that she was taken to NYU Langone for medical treatment.
