A 27-year-old Chicago woman is speaking out after being randomly punched even as walking to work in the Loop Tuesday morning, an attack that has amplified fears of escalating violence against women in the city’s downtown area. Bridget, who asked to be identified only by her first name, documented the moments following the assault in a TikTok video that has since been viewed tens of thousands of times.
The incident occurred as Bridget entered a crosswalk at Washington and Clark Streets. “He was already in front of me, about six feet, then all of a sudden he stops,” she told ABC7 Chicago. “Then he yelled something, but I didn’t consider he was yelling at me. The moment I passed him, he turned around and hit me.” She described being struck in the back of her neck and spine, the force nearly knocking her off her feet. By the time she turned around, the assailant had already fled.
The attack comes amid a series of similar incidents in the Loop, including an assault on ABC7 Chicago’s own Leah Hope last month. Bridget said learning about Hope’s experience was shocking. “It wasn’t the same guy, so I was kind of in shock,” she said. “Like, how are there this many men out there willing to hurt women?”
Chicago police are investigating Bridget’s assault and are seeking the perpetrator. The incident likewise echoes a case from December, in which a man was ordered detained by a judge after allegedly assaulting at least six women in separate downtown incidents. In some of those attacks, the suspect was wearing an electronic ankle monitor, according to police.
Bridget is now working from home and receiving counseling, expressing fear about returning to her daily commute. “The thought of leaving the house, right now, is pretty scary, which sucks because I live my life commuting, being downtown,” she said. “It’s where my job is located, and I can’t do that anymore.”
On Tuesday, at least one person was injured and 17 were arrested during an anti-ICE rally in the Loop, according to Chicago police. A protest also took place at Daley Plaza earlier this week, with advocates blaming former President Donald Trump for unrest during protests in Los Angeles. While these events are separate from Bridget’s assault, they contribute to a heightened sense of unease in the downtown area.
Organizers and vendors at the 2025 Chicago Christkindlmarket have also recently voiced concerns regarding new capacity limits at Daley Plaza, though these concerns relate to event logistics rather than public safety.