Officials in Albany are investigating after three Black female college students reported that a group of white men and women assaulted and racially harassed them aboard a city bus.
The three students, who are Black women, were harassed and assaulted while riding on the #11 CDTA bus on Western Ave in Albany. The students stated that racial slurs were used by the perpetrators, whom they described as a group of 10 to 12 white males and females.
A physical altercation ensued in which one victim stated that multiple men and women began to punch her on the head and kicking her after she fell to the ground.
Two of the victims went to Albany Medical Center to be evaluated and treated.
Later that night a victim of the attack took to social media to recount the racist events:
This student & her friends were beaten by a group of white girls & guys last night on @ualbany campus on a @CDTA BUS pic.twitter.com/rmDlMRs9VE
— Hazel London✨ (@breloved_) January 30, 2016
3 black female students that attend @ualbany get beat on an @CDTA. Driver and bystanders do nothing. pic.twitter.com/2yUvkyLZif
— Hazel London✨ (@breloved_) January 30, 2016
Many students and activists began to criticize the lack of administrative response and police transparency.
We aren’t safe… Especially if we go to school with students who decide to yell racial slurs and beat women. So where’s the email?
— Bres. (@xoxobressy) January 30, 2016
Oh since @ualbany doesn’t want to respond lets get higher up. @SUNY one of the schools is not protecting their students. Yet we pay tuition
— lucy (@lavishthought) January 30, 2016
Trying to report the incident to get footage of last night and @CDTA is withholding the bus number of the 11 that arrived at 12:53.
— Hazel London✨ (@breloved_) January 30, 2016
UPD arrival time for smell of weed: 2 minutes
UPD arrival time for people of color getting jumped: N/A @ualbany what you got to say
— El Jefe (@_Jelllz) January 30, 2016
UAlbany’s president, Robert J. Jones, issued a statement which read in part:
I call upon all members of the University at Albany to unite. We must show the world that we stand for inclusiveness and stand against bias, violence and hatred.
Our annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration will be held on the evening of Monday, Feb. 1. As we reflect on the principles and values that Dr. King stood for, let us come together in solidarity to reaffirm our values.
Now is the time to recommit to our principles of inclusivity and diversity and send a strong message that we will not tolerate bias, hatred and violence in our University.
Please see a statement from #UAlbany President Jones regarding last night’s events => https://t.co/c7pDiCC7Zl pic.twitter.com/3TBgpY3vId
— University at Albany (@ualbany) January 30, 2016
A rally is planned in response to the events for Monday at 5:30 on the campus of University at Albany.
