Serena Daniari Thanks MTA For Launching New Anti-Hate Campaign After Transphobic Attack
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Serena Daniari took her first subway ride yesterday since reporting that she was the victim of a transphobic attack in Washington Heights.
She was greeted by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's new campaign to combat hate crimes.
"First day back on the subway & this honestly made me tear up," she tweeted Wednesday. "Thank you MTA for launching a campaign against hate & bias crimes on public transit. No one should be harassed because of their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or identity. Look out for each other."
Daniari told police she was standing on the C train platform around 8 p.m. last Friday at the West 155th Street and Saint Nicholas Avenue station when a man yelled anti-sexual orientation slurs, then slapped and spit on her. A woman also allegedly slapped her cellphone out of her hands.
She posted a tearful video on social media that gained the attention of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio and other elected officials.
"She called me after it happened, and she was very upset and clearly very traumatized," her brother, Milad Daniari, told CBS2.
The male suspect, 26-year-old Pablo Valle, was taken into custody Monday. He now faces two hate crime harassment charges.
Also Monday, the MTA launched its "Hate Has No Place In Our Transportation System" campaign.
"New York is built on diversity, openness and inclusion," Chairman Patrick Foye said in a statement. "Every New Yorker should be able to travel free of harassment and feel safe while riding with the MTA. We want to do what we can to put a halt to these despicable crimes. We hope that our campaign will not only help reduce bias activity but will remind everyone of the core New York values of kindness, respect and solidarity."
More than 7,000 digital screens will display messages promoting "kindness, respect and solidarity" in subways, buses, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North stations.
The screens also show information on how to report "bias-motivated threats, harassment, discrimination or graffiti." Riders should call 1-212-878-1000 or text and email tips@mtahq.org.
Dainari shared a statement after the attack, thanking her supporters. She also posted thanks for the NYPD, governor and mayor for their responses.
