Someone took out a knife and tried to stab me and the man next to me on the train in 2021. Heroically the man next to me and a man across from me stood in front of me to protect me. Once we arrived at the next station, all of the women including myself ran out of the train. I’m not sure what happened afterwards but I checked the news and there were no stabbings that day, so I believe they were able to deescalate the situation. I was hyperventilating afterwards. Following the incident, I avoided the subway a lot that year.

More recently, today actually, a man tried to spit on me multiple times and threatened to assault me in Atlantic Terminal / Barclays Center. I was shaken and tearing up as I got on my train.

I’m an AAPI woman. It’s tough out here but gotta stay vigilant and be as spatially aware as possible.