On Thursday, a harrowing display of violence occurred at the Portland Oregon train station when security footage captured Brianna Lace Workman, a thirty-two-year-old homeless woman, attempting to push an innocent little girl onto the tracks. Fortunately, bystanders were able to swiftly react and rescue her in time before she was injured by an oncoming train. Such an act of random aggression is deeply troubling yet highlights the importance of awareness and how we must all come together in moments like this.
Workman has been taken into custody and indicted for forcefully pushing the toddler onto the train tracks. Despite Portland’s tireless attempts to reduce homelessness, it is still a pervasive issue in that city; this incident serves as a grim reminder of its continued presence there.
As another episode of criminal acts run amok in the liberal city of Portland, a 32-year-old homeless woman has been charged with shoving an innocent young girl onto the train tracks at the Gateway Transit Center MAX platform. Outrageous and inexcusable behavior such as this must be stopped to protect our citizens!
Surveillance footage showed that the small girl was wearing a bright pink coat and waiting alongside her mother at the railway station. In an unexpected turn of events, another person donning a red hat – presumably Workman – pushed her so she tumbled face-down onto the metal track.
Fortunately, the girl was relatively unscathed yet did report a severe headache after being pushed off of the train tracks by Workman. Additionally, there was an observable red mark on her forehead from falling back onto the platform once she had been shoved. The local district attorney confirmed these details in their official statement following the incident.
The district attorney is treating the attack as unprovoked, asserting that Workman unexpectedly shoved the young girl onto a rail. Accordingly, she has been accused of first and third-degree attempted assault, interfering with public transportation, disorderly conduct, and reckless endangerment. As this case progresses in the weeks ahead there is even potential for her to face additional charges.
The district attorney is requesting that the judge remand the accused in custody until her trial concludes due to her alleged violent behavior towards a young child.
Workman’s legal representative released a statement that declared: “At Ms. Workman’s request, I am not requesting her release at this time, but I am objecting to the state’s motion of preventative detention.”
In the wake of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s police-led killings, homelessness and crime surged in Portland with protests filling up the city. During COVID-19, looting occurred around downtown Portland which devastated many businesses. Although progress has been made to return to some semblance of normalcy after such a trying time, there is still much work left for healing within this community.
The legal case of Brianna Lace Workman is an alarming example of the crime and violence transpiring in Portland due to its homeless population. It remains uncertain if she will be convicted or given any leniency, but one thing is certain: In order for residents to feel safe and protected, Portland needs to take immediate action toward decreasing its homelessness rate and criminal activity.
