NYC emergency personnel help victim of subway attack
By: Dennis Richmond, Jr.
Last month, Christian Valdez, 35, allegedly shoved his 29-year-old trans girlfriend onto the subway tracks at Fulton Street in Lower Manhattan during an argument. Despite their disagreement, such an act remains unjustifiable. “We’re not seen as human beings,” expressed Nekia Zulu, a 23-year-old trans woman in New York. “They were taught to hate us.”
Valdez, who had been on parole after previous violent offenses, now faces updated charges. He is indicted for attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., stated, “His alleged vicious actions led to serious and irreversible injuries, including the amputation of both of the victim’s legs. We take all violence against commuters seriously, and my thoughts are with the victim as she copes with this dreadful incident.”
Instances like this highlight the need for trans women to protect themselves vigilantly. They face not only the fear of being pushed onto train tracks but also alarming rates of sexual assault. According to the Human Rights Campaign, over 50% of trans adults report experiencing sexual assault. Additionally, many trans individuals face rejection from their families.
Reflecting on a conversation with trans activist Cienna Rosalina, who lamented the lack of love some trans youth receive, resonates in the trans community. The statistics reinforce her sentiment, with 48% of Latinx and 39% of Black trans adults living in poverty. “I’m really happy she survived,” Zulu expressed. “People react with anger when they witness others living authentically.” As someone deeply invested in the LGBTQ+ community, I’m glad she survived too.
The GoFundMe link is https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-black-dv-survivor-in-mta-incident.