Well there is a theory of why many didn’t call the police to try to help her. Kitty Genovese happens to be a lesbian and many in the neighborhood pretty much suspected since she was living with her partner Mary Ann. So perhaps there was some prejudice against her. Still it is wrong no matter what their orientation is, I myself would not be silent if I witness a crime unless they are a mob.
In 1962 two girls that young living together wouldn’t have particularly said “lesbian” to anyone unless they were really strange looking or acting. Newsday many years ago ran a story the upshot of which was that what actually happened was that everyone assumed that SOMEONE would call the cops...no one did.
I’ve seen quite a few 911 worthy incidents since I’ve been carrying my cell phone and I’ve never bothered calling the cops as I assumed that they would receive 10 or 12 other calls.
Yeah, the roommate eventually outed her but lesbianism as an enigma was also beginning to be cracked societally. The singles scene was transforming dating customs just as Kitty chose to move away from her family so that she could live without the constant scrutiny and disapproval of her parents. The early ‘60’s are a fascinating period in so many respects.