Protesters in Miami Beach show solidarity with woman raped by registered sex offender

MIAMI BEACH, Florida. – Rob Prince, Shari Kline and Vik Pagan were among dozens of protesters who showed solidarity with a woman who was attacked and raped while rollerblading in Miami Beach.

There were rollerblades, bikes and skateboards. Some were runners and walkers, showing their determination to reclaim a beach path that no longer felt safe.

“For many of us, it is a source of therapy and peace, and unfortunately, what happened to the victim last week has devastated us,” Prince said.

Hollywood police arrested 31-year-old Keith Hill, a registered sex offender in Illinois, who Miami Beach police identified as the man who attacked and raped a woman while she was rollerblading.

“She didn’t do anything wrong,” Kline said. “She was minding her own business, enjoying her time, and it wasn’t her fault.”

Prince, Kline and Pagan said it was important to them to help organize the demonstration to show the victim that she was not alone and to reclaim the city’s public space and sense of community.

“A buddy system where you look out for each other, not just your friends but also people you don’t know. You have to be alert and notice when people seem unsure,” Kline said.

Prince said he felt powerless when he learned of the woman’s victimization. He is among the protesters who want to do everything they can to prevent such a crime from happening again in Miami Beach.

“It could be my sisters, it could be my cousins, it could be my niece, it could be my friends – the vast majority of my crew are women,” Prince said. “If they’re not safe, I’m not safe.”