A subway cellist who was suddenly attacked by a woman who threw a metal water bottle at his head last month has announced a new advocacy group for subway musicians. In a video he posted on X.
Ian. According to police, on February 13, S. Forrest, 29, was sitting in a chair enthusiastically playing a musical instrument at the 34th Street Herald Square station when an assailant approached him from nowhere.
A 23-year-old woman with eight previous arrests was arrested in the shocking attack and immediately released on Thursday despite asking for bail.
Amira Hunter was arrested Wednesday night, 15 days after she allegedly punched Forrest, 29, in the head.
At her arraignment Thursday on the second-degree assault charge, Manhattan prosecutors noted that Hunter had missed three of five court dates in other criminal cases in the past year. He insisted on $15,000 cash bail or $45,000 bail.
Judge Marva Brown, who chose to release the attackers Thursday, was only recently elected to the judicial role after serving as a public defender for nearly 20 years.
Forrest, a medical doctorate student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. First, I would like to thank the New York City Police Department.He said he was “relieved and grateful” the suspect had been arrested.
“Instead of getting bogged down in the complexities of bail reform, we want to focus on keeping everyone safe and moving forward with music,” Forrest said.
“We can work together to create a safer environment for performers and address the underlying incidents that are causing these incidents,” he added.
He included: Link This is where people can sign up to support SPAG’s efforts.
Forrest pointed out that he is just one of many performers who have been “attacked, harassed and robbed” while trying to entertain commuters on the subway.
He is one of hundreds of volunteers participating in the MTA’s Music Under New York program. The program schedules musicians to perform at transportation hubs around the city.
The senseless assault was filmed by a fan recording Forrest’s performance, showing the musician writhing in pain as he clutched his head and instrument.
