NY woman punched after calling out man for 'manspreading' now receiving online threats

Sam Saia, 37, has been receiving racist and sexist comments since she came forward about the attack on social media

The woman who was hit in the face by a man she called out for 'manspreading' claims to have received death threats since she came forward.

Sam Saia, 37, said she has received racist and sexist comments since she came forward about the attack on social media on Thursday, MailOnline reported.

"I did what I had to do. Looking back, I still would have done this," she said.

"The police have done right by me. They made it right."

Derick Smith, 56, was arrested on Saturday and charged the next day for assault, menacing and harassment. His bail was set at $5,000.

While she has taken some of the original post down from social media, Saia did share some anonymous comments that called her a "n****r lover" and a "race traitor".

"I just want people to back off at this point," Saia added.

"I'd like people to stop calling me a race traitor and if they'd see me on the street they'd punch me."

The woman added that people on the street express support when they see her out and about.

A Good Samaritan stepped in and forced a man off a New York Subway train after he launched into a sickening rant and punched Saia in the face because she said he was "manspreading".

Saia said she had politely asked the man to move his legs while she was sitting on the N train on Thursday, when he erupted into a violent rage, and began swearing at her, threatening her and punched her in the mouth.

Thankfully, a fellow straphanger intervened and grabbed the attacker, forcing him off at the next stop.

Brooklyn commuter Victor Conde, the brave passenger that rescued Saia, said he had intervened when he saw her in trouble and ordered her attacker to leave the train.

"He was definitely not all there," the 29-year-old added.

Video showed him shouting at the abuser: "Get the f*** off the train. Get off the train bro, you just f***ing hit a lady."

After Conde stepped in, the 'manspreader' tried to backtrack and apologize but no one on the train is having it.

It is assumed that he got off.

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Speaking about the incident, Saia said: "This took me by surprise. It's just a matter of safety. I want my neighborhood to be safe. I don't want this to happen to other women or men."

She added that she could not understand "how you could do that to somebody".

The video was posted on social media by fellow passenger Anthony Macca.

Macca said he did not witness Saia get hit by the 'manspreader' but had heard the argument break out and started filming shortly after.