Ald. Bennett Shares Action Items Following Downtown Attack

On September 3rd at around 3:20 a.m., police responded to a call where an individual was violently attacked and left with life threatening injuries. This appears to be a stranger assault and the perpetrator is still at large. Here are action items for us to take as we await more information. 

1. CENTER THE SURVIVOR.

It is important that we maintain the survivor’s privacy, do not make assumptions, and listen to what the survivor wants us to do. Experiencing  assault is traumatic, both physically and mentally, and in this situation such trauma is heightened because this is a high profile case. We do not yet have publicly available information about who the survivor is or details on what happened to them, nor do we have information on what their preferred action is. Until that information is made known to the public, we can help by identifying the perpetrator and looking for ways to help the survivor monetarily.

2. PROVIDE INFORMATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

A stranger assault, particularly to this degree of harm, is extremely rare. The person(s) who committed this assault are  extremely dangerous. Identifying the perpetrator is imperative to supporting the survivor and the public safety of everyone in downtown Madison. 
Law enforcement asked for very specific information — witnesses or video footage in the area of W Wilson and Bedford St between 2 - 4 a.m. If you have any information that may be helpful to this case, please contact the City of Madison Police Department at (608)255-2345. If you believe you have information, but do not feel comfortable contacting the police directly, please reach out to me and I can connect you with a trusted source to be with you while you speak with law enforcement. 

3. STAY SAFE

We should not have to be concerned about getting attacked simply for existing but we should know how to care for ourselves and our community should it ever happen. Please, watch out for yourselves and your neighbors. Some ways to keep our community safe is to walk or bike home in pairs, especially at night. If that is not an option, please utilize SAFEwalk, a taxi, or Madison Metro bus services. Always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t use headphones or look at your phone when walking. Most of all, if you do not feel safe, ask for help. We keep us safe. 

It is not easy  to share such terrible news or to  ask the public to connect with the police and be more vigilant. Still, we are here because an attack like this is an extremely rare event and should not be taken lightly. Please spread this information and be kind to one another. 

Here are some additional resources for anyone that is in need of assistance: 

• If you are a UW student, reach out to UHS at (608)265-6500
• If you are not a UW student, here are some 24/7 hotlines 
  • Rape Crisis Center (608)251-7273
  • DAIS (608)251-4445
  • Journey Crisis Line (608)280-2600
  • Trans Lifeline (877)565-8860