In the bustling labyrinth that is the New York City Subway, residents in metropolitan areas witness scenes that ordinary American citizens rarely encounter. A recent event, regarded by many as a potential homicide attempt, barely warranted a mention in media outlets, let alone in mainstream journalism. An online video sharing platform has helped illustrate the unusual happenings in the NYC Subway, including the peculiar situation of a skateboard being introduced into a conflict involving a knife. Unbelievably, these dangerous spectacles in the subway often rival the theatrics on Broadway.
Each day seems to bring a new oddity tucked in the rodent-ridden underground passageways of the city. Incidents range from floods and thefts to tense conflicts such as a standoff between a man wielding a knife and another brandishing a skateboard. Onlookers captured footage of two men poised for conflict—the one bearing a knife, unmistakably the instigator, was challenging another man armed with nothing more than a skateboard. At this juncture, the altercation was just simmering, but there was potential for it to escalate rapidly.
What frustrates average Americans, but shockingly is status quo in NYC Subways, is observing police officers spectating the escalating conflict. The individual provoking the encounter kept advancing towards his counterpart with the skateboard, endlessly brandishing his knife. In the midst of this, multiple policemen were present on the scene, yet remained passive.
As the situation evolved, uncertainty surrounds if the skateboard holder noticed the blade. As he began to recoil, his provocateur continued the chase. In a defensive move, the skateboard holder lunged his assailant back, causing him to drop his knife on the railway. The pursuer rebounded quickly, advancing on him once again. However, noticing his lost knife, he descended onto the tracks to retrieve it.
This initiated the police action: an officer armed with a Taser brought the skateboard holder to his knees while he attempted explaining the situation. The knife-wielder was lifted from the tracks by the officers, restrained, and subjected to a search. Despite eventual intervention, the officers’ prior disengagement from the situation remains glaring.
Even if a policeman’s view was obscured, the knife wielder’s concealed hand should have raised suspicion. Any slight glimpse of the hidden weapon only became visible once the aggressor was within close proximity, about to strike his opponent. This was the moment when the skateboard acted as a self-defense tool. Astonishingly, throughout this situation, law enforcement was present but chose to remain inactive.
The man with the skateboard might have found himself in a predicament, and potentially injured or even killed, had he not used his skateboard to fend off his assailant. This occurred under the watchful eyes of the police, who seemingly had their Tasers drawn but chose not to intervene until the self-defense act had occurred.
In scenarios like these, a prudent officer should foresee a serious threat and act accordingly. Using force, potentially deadly, or even deploying a Taser would be warranted in order to maintain public safety. The question that arises in this event is: Why was there a delay in action until the innocent party had to resort to self-defense?
Do police officers in New York City realize that they might be at greater risk than the potential attacker if they employ force when justified? Does this risk escalade if the potential instigator bears a minority skin tone, even when officers might share the same ethnicity? Are they influenced by political persuasions convincing them to remain passive?
There are concerns about whether the instigator will be prowling the streets again, seeking another weapon before the due procedure against him is completed. If this represents the day-to-day reality of New Yorkers, urgent intervention, perhaps even the deployment of the National Guard, as proposed by President Trump, could be deemed necessity.
The post Skateboard vs Knife: Another Day in NYC Subways appeared first on Real News Now.
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