In a harrowing yet inspiring tale of courage, 71-year-old Linda Rosa, a retired MTA worker from East New York, fought off a group of violent teen girls who attacked her in a Brooklyn subway station on New Year’s Day. Rosa was on her way to a church service when the teens attempted to rob her. Despite being punched and knocked to the ground, Rosa refused to give in.
“And then I [said to myself], ‘Oh, no, this is not going to happen today,’” Rosa recounted. Her attackers, undeterred by her resistance, escalated their aggression, with one punching her in the face and another attempting to snatch items from her purse.
When Rosa fell and feared further assault, she fought back with remarkable determination. “I got an impression in me that she was going to stomp me again, but she was going to aim towards my head,” she said. In a moment of quick thinking, she grabbed one assailant’s braids and pulled her to the ground. She then did the same with another teen, holding both attackers facedown as she called for assistance.
Rosa’s resilience forced the teens to flee, and she later sought refuge at the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church, where staff called 911. Despite suffering a cut on her nose and other injuries, Rosa remained thankful: “Thank God they didn’t have no weapons. I thank God I didn’t have a heart attack and a stroke and die!”
Reflecting on the incident, Rosa displayed grace and forgiveness. “I forgive them. They do not know what they do,” she said, attributing their actions to youthful foolishness. However, she also voiced concern over the rising violence in the city’s transit system: “It could happen to anybody. Now we’re seeing seniors getting attacked.”
Rosa’s bravery stands as a testament to the strength and resilience of ordinary Americans who refuse to be victimized, even in the face of daunting challenges.
