I Was Attacked on the Train. No One Helped Me.

[Agschmid]

And I’m not sure I would have helped me, either.

[center][/center]

What happened to Kevin Joseph Sutherland was horrific beyond imagining. On July 4, in front of about 10 witnesses on the Washington, D.C., Metro, an assailant punched him, stomped on him, kicked him in the head, and stabbed him at least 30 times. No one attempted to stop Sutherland’s killer.

What happened to me in November was vastly different, and I do not intend to equate the two events. Like Sutherland, I was attacked on a Saturday afternoon on the D.C. Metro. And as in Sutherland’s case, despite my screams and pleas, almost none of my fellow passengers on the crowded train car did anything to help.

I was in a window seat on the Blue Line, en route to meet friends for dinner. One teenage girl sat down next to a man in front of me; another sat beside me. They began by asking what kind of phone I had. The girl next to me patted down my pockets and, finding nothing, grabbed my coffee mug out of my hands. The girl in front put her finger in my face, getting as close as she could without touching me. They grabbed my legs. They threatened to rape me until I bled. One opened the other’s coat jacket, feigning—or not—that she had a weapon.

"What are the chances that Sutherland
could have survived if someone
had done something?"

Trying to get the attention of other passengers, I shouted at the top of my lungs, “Leave me alone!” and “Stop touching me!” I tried to flee when the train stopped, but they boxed me in and shoved me back down into my seat. The man sitting in front of me, next to one of the girls who attacked me, never turned around. He rode the train for a few stops, while the assault was going on, and then departed. The only person to come to my defense was a petite twentysomething woman who told the girls to cut it out. The girls briefly yelled at her—which filled me with both gratitude and, on her behalf, regret—but then turned their attention back to me.

Find out what happened next...

[seveneyes]

1. splinters of useless garbage need recycled into citizens of peace

[zappaman]

9. Fucking loved that band.

Wovenhand is pretty great too.

[Glassunion]

2. It is sad, but true.

We'd all like to think we would do something. But you never know until you're in the situation.

[Agschmid]

3. Remember that Walmart video?

Scary stuff, but there are a lot of reasons why you "wouldn't" get involved. I'd like to think I know what I would do, but until it happens I can't be positive.

[Glassunion]

4. Remember when the police watch that guy getting stabbed

on a train in NYC and did nothing to help?

[Agschmid]

6. No!

Wow, I'll have to Google that story.

[Glassunion]

7. Here is a link.

I never thought I'd link a cracked.com story, but here you go...

http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-1484-cops-wont-help-you-7-things-i-saw-as-real-slasher-victim.html

[snooper2]

5. I was a bouncer for a bit, you would be surprised at the drunks that would help

Drunk random asshole being an asshole- You have to tell everyone to calm down drunk dude down

I think it all depends on the area.

[Skittles]

8. I already have been

so I *KNOW* I would intervene

[Glassunion]

11. Sgt. I'd never doubt your veracity.

I know you'd open a can of whoopass!

[Agschmid]

12. Yup!

[951-Riverside]

10. I am disappointed in the Washington Post plastering the attackers photo on the article

He was arrested, there was no need to post his photo unless the intention was to use this tragic incident to promote a racist agenda.

Shame on the Washington Post.