New York City, NY – A New York City subway performer was violently attacked for the second time in a year, causing him to announce that he will no longer be playing on subway platforms. Iain Forrest, a 29-year-old medical student and musician, was bludgeoned over the head by a stranger wielding a water bottle while performing at the 34th Street Herald Square Station. This shocking incident was captured on video, depicting an unidentified woman picking up a metal water bottle and smashing it over Forrest’s head. The bottle clattered to the ground as Forrest clutched his head in pain.
Following the attack, Forrest announced the formation of a coalition with his fellow musicians called the Subway Performers Advocacy Group (SPAG). Their mission is to urge the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) to track statistics of crimes against subway musicians and ensure that police resources are allocated to prevent future attacks. However, he stated that for the time being, he will no longer entertain underground until there is systemic change with protection for performances in the subway.
This was not the first time Forrest had been targeted. Last May, he was attacked by a man who beat and choked him, broke his electric cello’s battery, and stole both cash and the instrument. Rendell Robinson, 40, was arrested and charged with robbery in connection with that case and remains in custody.
Despite efforts by the MTA to assign a police officer to watch over Forrest after the latest attack, he expressed concern for his safety and the impact of his absence on his loved ones. Forrest also shared his frustration that attacks against subway performers have become normalized and called for better tracking of these incidents and where they are occurring.
The musician, who also performs under the moniker ‘Eyeglasses,’ is known for playing electric cello covers and writing his own music. He was discovered playing in the subway and has since performed at Radio City Music Hall and during the opening game at Yankee Stadium. Alongside his musical pursuits, Forrest is completing his MD-PhD at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai after earning his PhD in May.