MEET BERNHARD GOETZ
YEAR: 1984
While recently reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell I learned the story of Bernhard Goetz aka The Subway Vigilante. I'm surprised I haven't heard this one before but it's none the less conversation worthy.
Long story short, on a crowded New York subway train...
4 black teens harass a nerdy white man on a train...they don't attack but they threaten and place their hands in a gesture that would lead one to believe they had guns and/or weapons. Bernhard Goetz shoots all four of them and takes off into the night only to turn himself days later. He was embraced by the public and basically let go with no hassle by the courts as a hero who did what everyone wishes they had the balls to do.
What is fascinating is that this was in the midst of the New York crime wave of the 80's and subway travel was not safe...period, end of story. This really could have been the single thing that ended the New York crime wave which lead to a cleaner and safer New York all together.
Another fascinating quote was when he turned himself in the papers ran a photo oh Bernhard in cuffs and one of his "assailants" being set free. There was some witty headline which I don't recall verbatim but it was something to the effect of "Hero locked up, criminal set free"
Bernhard Goetz remains a free to this day...I wonder what would happen if this scenario repeated itself in Modern day.
Some links to the story:
Story
Wikipedia
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