Penn Station Assault Victim Speaks

When a tipster sent in an account of a woman violently assaulted at a commuter waiting room in Penn Station, the shock, concern and frustration readers felt was summed up well by this comment

Does anyone know how the lady is doing? I don't even know her and I feel awful.

I think we all imagined the horror of that moment. What we didn't know was that our words would reach the victim. Here is a letter to Baristanet from her received by email yesterday:

My name is Kiara Freeman and I was the woman assaulted at Penn Station two weeks ago. Thank you for all the support that day and to Baristanet for sharing it. I've not talked about it yet, outside of family, but I've read all of the posts and appreciate them. I want you all to know who I am, how I'm doing and what really happened.

My fiance, Gary Lewis, and I have lived in Montclair for over two years now. Gary grew up in Montclair and has strong ties to the community and for me, being from Seattle, everything about Montclair feels like home. I live around some amazing and caring people. I work for an advertising firm and Gary for a magazine in Manhattan so taking the train, like for most, was a necessary part of our lives....until two weeks ago.

Because of the time of day and where I was sitting ( the waiting area for ticketed passengers) I expected to be safe. I had just taken a call from my mother while waiting for the 6:18 train when I was struck. I immediately knew I had been hit with something because of the force and sound of the impact; I later learned it was a box cutter type knife which is why there was so much blood. At the hospital I received 18 stitches and fortunately didn't lose my eye. We don't yet know what the longer term damage is.

The assailant was captured and subsequently charged with three felony counts of assault. That fact doesn't quite offer the comfort I'd hope, because I know there are many more like him living and freely roaming the stations that claim our safety is their "top priority.". I understand the
social politics around why they are there, this was a 22-year-old kid who clearly needs help, but it's a circular debate that's not the point right now.

I was very, very lucky, there happened to be a NYPD cop around since I NEVER EVER saw Penn Station security. Maybe they were fighting crime elsewhere, maybe the hot light was on at Krispy Kreme and they couldn't be bothered, but other commuters had to chase this man down, endanger themselves and hold him for the police and that still doesn't make sense to me. Today, I cannot see a time where I will feel safe enough to commute via transit train again.

My life will be different but like millions of people in the world I will adjust in time. I'm reassured that there are so many wonderful people who care and they seem to live in Montclair. See you all at the Upper Montclair Starbucks, I'm the one with the eye patch and the horrible bangs! Thank you again for all the support!!

Kind Regards,
Kiara Freeman

p.s. Many of you were there and helped me but there was one man I would like to especially thank. I don't know his name but he picked up my cell phone and spoke to my mother, who in another state listened while her daughter was being attacked. If he is reading this thank you so much for trying to calm her, something I've never been able to do and under the circumstances you did such a good job I'd like to know if you could help out holidays. Seriously though, we really appreciated you getting involved and everyone is working to heal.

Kiara, thanks for letting us know how you are and answering some of the questions we all had. Sometimes, Baristanet can feel like a bunch of faceless, nameless people typing into cyberspace. Your letter reminds us that we are also a community and that connections and support can come from all kinds of sources. Godspeed your healing; we'll look for you in Starbucks.