Unspoken Words of the City: On Assault and Harassment in NYC
“Raising awareness isn’t about spreading fear, it’s about demanding accountability. It means we deserve better results from institutions that are meant to protect us, including the MTA and NYPD.”
On Tuesday, July 1, 2025, around 8:30 a.m. on the downtown 6 train, someone close to me was alone in the train car when a member of the MTA, likely a conductor, approached her and commented on her necklaces. He began asking her small but personal questions. She answered politely, thinking the conversation was over. It turns out it wasn’t. Ten to fifteen minutes later, it escalated. He came back, called her “beautiful,” and asked if he could “get to know her.” She declined and said no. He persisted. Even though she was visibly under eighteen, her discomfort didn’t stop him from invading her space. Commuters nearby watched, but never stepped forward. When she stepped off at East 143rd Street, she watched him stare at her through the window of the operator’s cabin. He was visibly upset. It was frightening.
Every day, millions of New Yorkers step into the crowded subway, stand on platforms, board trains, and work through the constant heartbeat that is this city’s subway system. For many people, public transportation is a necessity, a routine that contributes to their work, school, and other opportunities. But beneath the hum of train engines and moving commuters, there exists an uncomfortable truth: the subway is also a space where countless people silently endure harassment and fear. Both sexual harassment and assault are not unusual in New York City; they are common, mostly ignored, and often unrreported.
Recent data from the New York Police Department (NYPD) and national advocacy organizations such as RAIN (Rape, Abuse & Incest Network) reveal a continuous pattern. About 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men experience sexual violence at some point in their lives. In New York City, thousands of cases of sexual assault and harassment happen every year. However, studies estimate that about 60 to 80 percent of these incidents go unreported, which means many of these cases never reach authorities. According to the NYPD’s Special Victims Division, approximately 14,000 sexual assault incidents are investigated annually; these crimes include adults and minors. Yet fewer than half of these cases turn into arrests or resolutions, exposing the large gap between reports and justice received. Oftentimes, victims lose hope in a system that seems unable to protect them.
A citywide survey reflects the same pattern on public transit. A report made by the Office of Manhattan Borough President found that 63 percent of respondents had been sexually harassed on the subway or in a station, and 10 percent of those respondents reported being sexually assaulted. Even more concerning, 96 percent of those people never reported what happened to the NYPD or the MTA. These findings reflect the results of a larger study conducted in 2024, showing that 71.5 percent of New Yorkers have experienced forms of harassment on the street.
These statistics are beyond “simple” numbers. This chart shows that fewer than half of reported cases are never solved. For instance, around 1,200 sexual assault cases and 2,800 harassment cases were reported in 2023, more than 3,000 have gone unreported. Each of these numbers represents a person. Every dataset represents silence, fear, or humiliation. For many of these victims, safety feels like something that must be worked for, it is not guaranteed. Assault and harassment reshape our daily lives, changing how we travel, where we sit, and what we wear. When a subway ride becomes a space that holds anxiety, the issue is no longer personal, it’s systemic.
This issue is deeply personal to me. The person I mentioned earlier? That was one of my closest friends. On Monday, Jul 7, 2025, it happened again. She rode on the express 6 train to Hunts Point, then transferred to the local 6 train around 8:35 a.m. She immediately recognized the same man. Instead of sitting alone again, she sat near other people, hoping it would prevent another incident. It didn’t. Once again she felt like prey being hunted by a predator. He watched again, through the window, as she stepped out of the train. This time, she felt extremely scared. Not only did this man know her stop, but he also knew she took the train alone. Since then, she’s changed her schedule and morning routines. Sometimes it makes her late, or forces her to walk farther to another stop.
She reported this incident not just because she needed to get it out of her mind,but also because she wanted to stop feeling guilty about what she could’ve done. She wanted closure; she wanted hope; she wanted to feel protected although she rides alone. She knows there are other minors like her, ones who ride the train but feel frightened to admit these incidents have occurred. Weeks later she received an email from an MTA investigator, who helped her identify the man by providing important details. But her own incident isn’t an isolated event; it’s part of a widespread pattern within the city. One of the most frightening parts was the silence and lack of action made by bystanders. People saw. People heard. People looked. But no one helped.
Studies show that many witnesses hold back because they fear conflict, believe someone else will step in, or feel unsure. Yet the silence is what encourages harassment to continue. When bystanders ignore this predatory behavior, it becomes normalized. Numbers show frequency, but not fear. After this experience, she noticed how other people avoid eye contact, sit with their legs crossed, and move down when others get too close. These aren’t habits — this is survival.
According to trauma researchers, repeated harassment can lead to anxiety, hypervigilance, and a long-term fear of public spaces. Victims began redirecting their lives: avoiding certain stations, avoiding being out at certain hours, or even avoiding public transportation as a whole. Public transportation is meant to connect people, and form new opportunities, not drive them away from them. You get on a train to go somewhere, not to be reduced into someone who is scared to even go outside. This story isn’t outdated. It’s recent. It’s relevant. These incidents happen everyday. Reports of harassment on public transit have increased within the past few years, even if many of these victims remain silent. Even though the MTA uses slogans like “If You See Something, Say Something,” the reality is actually way more difficult. People see things all the time. They just don’t feel safe enough to speak up. Raising awareness isn’t about spreading fear, it’s about demanding accountability. It means we deserve better results from institutions that are meant to protect us, including the MTA and NYPD. These set policies mean nothing without enforcement. Investigations should be taken seriously, not discarded as if the issue will stop. Employees who abuse their power should face consequences.
Silence protects predators. My friend wants minors like her to feel safer than she did. No person should be afraid to travel. Harassment in public spaces isn’t just a crime to one individual; it is a failure made by the community. Sexual harassment isn’t only misconduct—it’s a societal and moral issue. Real change starts when people stop looking away. When bystanders stand up for the young. When the institutions we’re surrounded by listen and act. When the reports we provide are taken seriously.
New York is prideful when it comes to resilience, but resilience shouldn’t rely on fear. No one—including minors—should feel unsafe in public spaces. The city that’s known for never sleeping should be awake to the cries of others.
Works Cited:
Griffin, O., et al. “Victimization of Public Transit Workers in New York City.” PubMed, 2024.
New York City Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. “Street Harassment Survey Report 2024.” NYC.gov, 2024.
New York City Police Department. “Special Victims Division.” NYC.gov, 2024.
Office of the Manhattan Borough President. “Subway Harassment Survey Report.” Gothamist, 2024.
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. “Criminal Justice System Statistics.” RAINN.org, 2024.
