NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) The search continues for the men who assaulted a woman outside a Harlem liquor store, and now the community is showing their support for the victim.
A large crowd of people stretched out on 128th Street in Harlem on Saturday night, many of them directly in front of a liquor store where a 31-year-old mother was brutally beaten Monday.
The demonstration ended a rally that started three blocks away when women, men and children stood on the corner to speak out against violence against the neighborhood.
‘If we don’t, who will? It is our responsibility, it is our duty to protect our women and children in our community, ”said Omar Jackson, director of Stand Against Violence East Harlem.
“It could have been me, my daughters, my mom, any woman,” East Harlem resident Tamika Foster told CBS2’s Cory James. “The community as a whole, we all have to stick together.”
Earlier this week, CBS2’s Lisa Rozner spoke exclusively to the woman who was attacked.
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She says she bought a bottle of wine from a liquor store when one of the men offered to pay, but she politely declined.
After checking out and leaving the store, the woman says the man and two others chased her down the street and then kicked her. One of them even bit her on the forehead.
Police say a woman was attacked and robbed by three people after an argument at a Harlem liquor store on Jan. 18, 2021 (Credit: NYPD Crime Stoppers)
‘No matter how much I asked, you know, I’m trying to get to my daughter, please leave me alone, I said I would call the police. He didn’t care. He had one thing on his mind and that was attacking me. That’s what he wanted to do, ”the victim told Rozner.
The victim’s family members came to Saturday’s rally in support of their cousin, who they believe is still traumatized.
“People can’t think they can do what they want to do. No means no, ”said Cousin Laroya Smalls.
“Pointless, for no reason, she didn’t even know them,” said Cousin Sybil Smalls. ‘We need them. That is our main goal. “
Police are hoping that CCTV footage will help the woman who was attacked to receive justice and restore her sense of security.
“I definitely want to see him locked up, if not under jail, for what he did to me because I don’t deserve this,” said the victim.
One of the men charged in the attack is also said to have stolen the victim’s iPhone.
Anyone who has information about this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782. Tips can also go to it NYPD Tips Twitter account or submitted online at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.
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