In response to the ongoing crime wave that continues to plague New York City, the Guardian Angels, a volunteer crime-prevention group, are re-emerging to provide much-needed safety in the subway system. Founded in the late 1970s, the group was originally created to address the dire security issues facing the city’s subway system. As crime rates soar and public safety deteriorates under current leadership, the Guardian Angels are once again stepping up to fill the gap left by government authorities.
The latest tragedy, a woman burned alive on the subway last week by an illegal immigrant, highlights the dangerous and deteriorating situation in the Big Apple. With violent crime becoming increasingly common, the Guardian Angels, led by Curtis Sliwa, have made the bold decision to reintroduce their patrols in the subway system. The group will be sending three-person teams to patrol subway cars, conduct wellness checks on homeless individuals, and step in to de-escalate violent situations. If necessary, they will alert the New York Police Department to address dangerous incidents.
Despite Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to deploy nearly 1,000 police officers to patrol the subways, violent attacks continue to occur. Clearly, the city’s reliance on government intervention alone isn’t enough to ensure the safety of commuters, leaving citizens like the Guardian Angels to take matters into their own hands. The city’s failure to tackle crime effectively has led many to question the effectiveness of the administration’s policies.
Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty aptly captured the current state of affairs when he tweeted, “🚨 WELCOME TO TRUMP’S AMERICA: The ‘Guardian Angels’ have returned to the New York City subways because of crime problems. The group’s leader says everyday citizens don’t perform these activities because the ‘Daniel Penny effect has frozen them. They’re not gonna get involved.’”
Daugherty went on to note that the Guardian Angels’ actions, including wellness checks and managing mental health episodes, represent what ordinary citizens are now too afraid to do, a direct result of the fear instilled by the controversial trial of Daniel Penny, the Marine who was charged after defending himself and others from an unruly passenger on the subway.
Curtis Sliwa, in a video posted on social media, highlighted the urgent need for the Guardian Angels’ presence on the subway. He criticized the lack of mental health workers or crisis intervention services, noting that while millions of taxpayer dollars are spent on these initiatives, they are rarely visible when needed. Sliwa explained, “We train. This is what we do. We know how to do it.” The Guardian Angels’ expertise in de-escalating tense situations, especially involving the homeless and emotionally disturbed, has made them a unique and invaluable resource in New York’s crime-ridden subways.
He also emphasized the group’s practical approach to ensuring safety. Sliwa explained, “If there’s an episode, we have to calm it down. A lot of times these homeless and emotionally disturbed persons know of the Guardian Angels, and we can have a calming effect.” With no reliable police presence in sight, the Guardian Angels are taking matters into their own hands to prevent further violence.
The return of the Guardian Angels is a clear sign that New Yorkers are no longer willing to sit idly by as crime runs rampant. The city’s failure to protect its citizens has created a vacuum that groups like the Guardian Angels are willing to fill. As crime rates continue to rise, more and more citizens are stepping up to take control of their own safety, just as the Guardian Angels did decades ago when they first took to the subways. This is a reminder that when government fails, it’s the community that must rise to protect what’s theirs.
