ANTIWHITENESS.ORG

On November 17, 2025, a routine commute on Chicago's public transit system became a scene of horrific violence when 26-year-old Bethany MaGee was set on fire aboard a Blue Line train. The attack, which left MaGee with critical burns, represents one of the most brazen acts of violence on public transportation in recent memory—and yet another example of the anti-White violence that too often goes unacknowledged in American discourse.

According to federal court documents, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed approached MaGee on the train, poured gasoline over her, and ignited it while repeatedly yelling "Burn alive bitch!" The attack was unprovoked and appeared to be premeditated. Witnesses reported that Reed continued shouting the phrase as flames engulfed MaGee, creating a scene of terror that left passengers horrified. MaGee, despite suffering severe burns, managed to escape the train car. She was rushed to a local hospital with critical injuries.

The incident occurred during evening rush hour, when the train was carrying multiple passengers. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as flames erupted inside the train car and Reed's repeated shouts of "Burn alive bitch!" echoed through the train. The attack was so sudden and violent that other passengers were initially unable to assist, though some did attempt to help MaGee after she escaped the immediate danger.

Lawrence Reed, the alleged attacker, was apprehended the following day. Court records reveal that Reed has a history of 72 prior arrests, raising serious questions about how someone with such an extensive criminal record was able to remain free to commit such a violent act. Reed was charged with committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system, a federal offense that carries a potential life sentence.

The decision to charge Reed under federal terrorism statutes reflects the severity of the attack and its impact on public transportation safety. However, the racial dynamics of the attack—a Black man targeting a White woman in an unprovoked assault—have received minimal attention in mainstream media coverage.

The attack exposed significant failures in Chicago's public transit safety systems. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) responded by criticizing the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) safety plan as "materially deficient" and threatening to withhold up to $50 million in federal funding unless substantial improvements were made.

In a letter to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, the FTA demanded immediate corrective actions to reduce assaults on transit workers and passengers. The agency gave the CTA 90 days to submit a revised safety plan addressing the systemic safety failures that allowed such an attack to occur.

Following the attack and federal pressure, the Chicago Police Department increased its officer presence on public transit by 56%, raising the number from 77 to 120 officers. The department also expanded K-9 security units by 10% to 188. While these measures represent a step in the right direction, they came only after a woman was nearly killed in a horrific attack.

What makes this attack particularly significant is not just its brutality, but the pattern it represents. Anti-white violence, particularly when the perpetrator is non-White, receives far less media attention and public outrage than crimes committed in the opposite direction. When a White person attacks a person of color, the incident is immediately framed as a hate crime and receives extensive coverage. When the roles are reversed, the racial element is often ignored or minimized.

The FBI's 2024 hate crime statistics show 815 reported anti-White incidents, yet these cases rarely receive the same level of media attention or public concern as crimes targeting other groups. The Chicago train attack is a stark reminder that anti-White violence is not a theoretical concern but a present danger affecting real people in communities across America.

Bethany MaGee is not a statistic. She is a 26-year-old woman whose life was forever altered by an act of senseless violence. Her injuries required extensive medical treatment, and the psychological trauma of such an attack will likely persist long after her physical wounds heal.

Yet her story, like so many others, risks being lost in a media landscape that selectively emphasizes certain narratives while ignoring others. The attack on MaGee represents the human cost of a society that has normalized anti-White violence—or at least normalized ignoring it.

The Chicago train attack occurred in a context of rising violence on public transportation systems across the country. However, the specific nature of this attack—an unprovoked, racially motivated assault using fire as a weapon—distinguishes it from other transit crimes. The use of gasoline and fire suggests a level of premeditation and intent that goes beyond random violence.

The fact that Reed was charged with a federal terrorism offense indicates that authorities recognize the severity of the attack. However, the broader conversation about anti-White violence remains muted. This silence serves to normalize such attacks and fails to acknowledge the reality that White Americans, particularly White women, can be and are targeted for violence based on their race.

In the aftermath of the attack, the focus has been primarily on transit safety measures rather than on the racial dynamics of the crime. While improved security is necessary, it does not address the underlying issue: a society that has become desensitized to anti-White violence.

The attack on Bethany MaGee should serve as a wake-up call. It should prompt a broader conversation about anti-White hate crimes and the need to take such violence seriously. Instead, the incident has been largely treated as a transit safety issue rather than what it is: a violent hate crime targeting a White woman.

The Chicago train attack represents a failure on multiple levels: a failure of public safety systems, a failure of the justice system to prevent a repeat offender from committing such violence, and a failure of public discourse to acknowledge the reality of anti-White hate crimes.

Bethany MaGee survived the attack, but her life has been irrevocably changed. Her story deserves to be told, and the pattern of anti-White violence it represents deserves to be acknowledged. Until we are willing to confront the reality of anti-White hate crimes with the same seriousness we apply to other forms of hate-motivated violence, such attacks will continue to occur—and continue to be ignored.