A Massachusetts civil rights pioneer and education activist was stabbed multiple times while walking a dog in Boston’s Franklin Park on Tuesday night, and her friend said the victim believes there was a sexual component to the attack. The victim, 91-year-old Jean McGuire, who was the first Black woman on the Boston School Committee and a METCO founder, was stabbed near 25 Playstead Road just before 8:30 p.m. sources told 5 Investigates.NewsCenter 5 spotted multiple Boston Police Department cruisers at the scene. Officers, including a K9, were seen searching the area. Multiple evidence markers were placed near White Stadium and Playstead Park.McGuire was taken to a Boston hospital and is expected to survive. Her friend, Jeriline Brady-McGinnis, said McGuire was attacked from behind.”She believes he was trying to rape her,” Brady-McGinnis said. “She said when he knocked her down, he was groping her and touching on her.” Brady-McGinnis said the man ran off when McGuire’s dog went after the assailant.”Honestly, if you would’ve asked me my name at that point, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you. My anger was so high I could hear my heartbeat through my whole body. My anger was that high. Of course, not nice things went through my head. I had to keep myself from going in my own car and doing something stupid. Because it has to be a very, very brave man that can attack a 91-year-old woman in the park,” Brady-McGinnis said.Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said he visited McGuire in her hospital room.”Ms. McGuire is as spunky and as vibrant as ever and is going to be just fine, praise the Lord. When I walked into the room, she said, ‘Oh, look at you all grown up,'” said Hayden. “This one’s personal for me. She knows my dad. I’ve known her family for a long time.”Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said she had the chance to speak to the victim, who Wu called McGuire “an inspiration in every way.”“I am disgusted and angry to know that an elder in our community had to fear for her safety going about her daily routine, walking her dog,” Wu said.No arrests have been announced by police. Police said the assailant may have been injured during the attack. In 1981, McGuire became the first Black woman elected to the Boston School Committee and served for more than 40 years as the executive director of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO), which sends students of color from Boston to predominantly white suburban schools.McGuire became the METCO program’s executive director in 1973 and served in the position until 2016, according to a biography posted by Northeastern University.”It is alarming that this act of violence would happen to Dr. McGuire in her own community,” reads a statement from the METCO Directors Association. “Dr. McGuire is a pioneer of the METCO program and an educational leader in Boston. She has been a civil rights activist for over sixty years and an individual who has sacrificed for and given so much of herself to the city of Boston. She is well-known and beloved by the entire community. As an association, we pray for her continued recovery.””You hear people say they would give you the shirt off their back, she’d take off her shirt and snatch somebody else’s and give it to you. That’s how her heart is. And to have this happen to her, I’m beyond words. I’m beyond words. My anger is so high right now. If I acted on it, you guys would be talking to me from bars,” Brady-McGinnis said.Detectives are urging anyone that was in the area during that time and may have witnessed the incident or observed anything suspicious to contact Area B-2 detectives at 617-343-4275.
A Massachusetts civil rights pioneer and education activist was stabbed multiple times while walking a dog in Boston’s Franklin Park on Tuesday night, and her friend said the victim believes there was a sexual component to the attack.
The victim, 91-year-old Jean McGuire, who was the first Black woman on the Boston School Committee and a METCO founder, was stabbed near 25 Playstead Road just before 8:30 p.m. sources told 5 Investigates.
NewsCenter 5 spotted multiple Boston Police Department cruisers at the scene. Officers, including a K9, were seen searching the area. Multiple evidence markers were placed near White Stadium and Playstead Park.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
McGuire was taken to a Boston hospital and is expected to survive.
Her friend, Jeriline Brady-McGinnis, said McGuire was attacked from behind.
“She believes he was trying to rape her,” Brady-McGinnis said. “She said when he knocked her down, he was groping her and touching on her.”
Brady-McGinnis said the man ran off when McGuire’s dog went after the assailant.
“Honestly, if you would’ve asked me my name at that point, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you. My anger was so high I could hear my heartbeat through my whole body. My anger was that high. Of course, not nice things went through my head. I had to keep myself from going in my own car and doing something stupid. Because it has to be a very, very brave man that can attack a 91-year-old woman in the park,” Brady-McGinnis said.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said he visited McGuire in her hospital room.
“Ms. McGuire is as spunky and as vibrant as ever and is going to be just fine, praise the Lord. When I walked into the room, she said, ‘Oh, look at you all grown up,'” said Hayden. “This one’s personal for me. She knows my dad. I’ve known her family for a long time.”
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said she had the chance to speak to the victim, who Wu called McGuire “an inspiration in every way.”
“I am disgusted and angry to know that an elder in our community had to fear for her safety going about her daily routine, walking her dog,” Wu said.
No arrests have been announced by police. Police said the assailant may have been injured during the attack.
In 1981, McGuire became the first Black woman elected to the Boston School Committee and served for more than 40 years as the executive director of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO), which sends students of color from Boston to predominantly white suburban schools.
McGuire became the METCO program’s executive director in 1973 and served in the position until 2016, according to a biography posted by Northeastern University.
“It is alarming that this act of violence would happen to Dr. McGuire in her own community,” reads a statement from the METCO Directors Association. “Dr. McGuire is a pioneer of the METCO program and an educational leader in Boston. She has been a civil rights activist for over sixty years and an individual who has sacrificed for and given so much of herself to the city of Boston. She is well-known and beloved by the entire community. As an association, we pray for her continued recovery.”
“You hear people say they would give you the shirt off their back, she’d take off her shirt and snatch somebody else’s and give it to you. That’s how her heart is. And to have this happen to her, I’m beyond words. I’m beyond words. My anger is so high right now. If I acted on it, you guys would be talking to me from bars,” Brady-McGinnis said.
Detectives are urging anyone that was in the area during that time and may have witnessed the incident or observed anything suspicious to contact Area B-2 detectives at 617-343-4275.
