Over the last few weeks, multiple attacks against women have been reported in New York City. A group of men have allegedly been punching women on the streets. The reason for this is unknown, but it is speculated that this action is happening simply because a woman is not “paying attention” while walking on the streets.
This hit social media with influencer Halley Kate’s viral video where she was seemingly frantic due to an unidentified man punching her in the face. This led her to a blackout on the streets and a knot on the upper right side of her head. Many of the comments showed people shocked and scared for the fate of others, especially in New York.
Multiple other women have been posting more alarming TikTok about being randomly punched by a stranger while walking in NYC. This was not just a one-hit wonder. There were at least two daytime reports reported to cops on March 27, 2024.
The attacks have been familiarized with the “Knockout Game,” infamous 11 years ago, where young people encourage each other to randomly sucker-punch strangers. This was popular in NYC back in 2013, and now the New York Police Department is worried that it may be resurfacing.
The attacks may have been facilitated by multiple men, but so far only one, 40-year-old Skiboky Stora, has been caught and sent to court.
Stora was the one who punched Kate, and what makes this case even more unsettling is he is a recurring political candidate. He is a frequent candidate for elected office and a performing artist who records rap music under the name Designer Attitude. His journey, however, has not been very successful. Stora made an unsuccessful City Council bid in District Nine last year, losing to Democrat Yusef Salaam, who was falsely convicted of raping young women.
In 2022, he was a “withdrawn or disqualified” Republican gubernatorial candidate. NYPD did not say if Stora was a suspect in any of the other incidents.
These incidents have scared women all across the country. Outbreaks like this have happened in the past, and it is scary to believe that these events may spread throughout the states. Violence against women remains common, according to new data from WHO and partners. Across their lifetime, 1 in 3 women, around 736 million, are subjected to physical violence.
NYC has seen multiple attacks, but this one has taken a storm online. This recent wave of violence against women strikes at the core sense of safety and security. Each reported incident sends shockwaves of fear and anxiety throughout the nation, especially amongst women who see themselves reflected in the victims. These viral videos show the vulnerability that women face simply existing in public spaces.
The issues at hand are serious. Some people on TikTok have made jokes about the case, with other men speaking out and standing on the attacker’s side of the situation. These attacks should not be taken lightly, as situations like this can spiral and cause even more damage to women in New York and throughout. These issues must be presented online, so that more women can be alerted and stay safe, but some people take this for granted.
The fact that these attacks are random and are perpetrated by individuals who see it fit to exhibit harm, amplifies the sense of uncertainty in society. It is not just the physical injuries inflicted but also the emotional trauma that will linger in these women. Women in NYC may be frightened to even walk to the bodega, scared that their bodies may be threatened.
The streets of NYC are already known as dangerous, but these events have amplified the feeling. The attacks are a stark reminder that despite progress, violence against women throughout the country remains an ever-present threat.
