NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A transgender journalist who was waiting for a subway train in Manhattan was spat on and slapped by a man and woman yelling transphobic slurs.
Serena Daniari was at the West 155th Street subway station in Harlem waiting for a C train around 9 p.m. when a man and woman started shouting transphobic slurs at her, Daniari said.
The man then slapped her and spat on her before his female companion slapped Daniari's phone out of her hand.
Daniari posted a tearful message on Twitter shortly after the hate-fueled attack.
I was just attacked by a couple on the train. They spit on me and hit me and called me transphobic slurs. pic.twitter.com/YgPDZncIpo
— Serena Daniari (@serenajazmine) January 25, 2020
"I just wish people would leave me alone. I don't do anything. I just want to be left alone," she said in the video.
Mayor Bill de Blasio responded on Twitter, calling the attack loathsome and saying the NYPD Hate Crime unit is investigating.
"Serena, on behalf of your city I'm so sorry this happened. Transgender and non-binary New Yorkers deserve to travel in their city without fear," the mayor tweeted.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed the state police Hate Crimes Task Force to assist the NYPD in its investigation of the attack.
The couple took off after the attack. No arrests have been reported.
On Sunday, the NYPD released these images of the suspect, which were taken by Daniari.
This couple just spit on me and hit me after calling me transphobic slurs I am so disgusted and crying waiting for the police. Fuck this disgusting city. pic.twitter.com/Dura6tgBLt
— Serena Daniari (@serenajazmine) January 25, 2020
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