On a warm summer night seven years ago, I was returning home from a function when I happened upon a site that is starting to be all too familiar in Milwaukee these days. A man in his twenties was getting beat up by two thugs. As I was about to drive by the scene I slowed my car down to make sure that I actually was seeing what I thought I was seeing.
You’ve been there right?
“Is this really happening? Is that really blood?”
Yep. It was blood. The attack was as real as could be.
I did a quick scan to my left, toward a row of house that lined the opposite side of the street. I wanted to see if anyone else saw what was going on. I had my windows down and it was quite obvious that the victim wasn’t going down quietly. Sure enough, there were plenty of people on their doorsteps. A crowd was gathering, actually, but no one was moving! No one was coming to the young man’s aid!
I thought to myself, "Maybe they called the cops already."
"Maybe I don’t have to get involved."
"It’s not my problem..."
Right?
Switching gears to recent events, I’m glad that I wasn’t one of the passengers on that ill-fated bus last week.
If you live in Milwaukee, you might have heard about the story that I first reported on 620 WTMJ last Monday. A Wauwatosa man was attacked by a bunch of black youths while riding on a crowded Milwaukee county bus last week. The man was slapped around and verbally abused.
That’s not the surprising part of the story.
Not one of the 50 passengers on the bus intervened! No one even noticed! Not one. No one came to the young man’s aid. One white man on a bus of 50 and not only does no one lift a hand, but apparently no one could even remember any details. Thank God for video surveillance. So far, one assailant has been caught but 50 passengers should be ashamed of their apathy.
Back to my story…
So, I pulled my car over to the side of the road, said a prayer and jumped out and ran over to enter the fray. As it turns out, the young man was being mugged. I gave the muggers two options: Run away now, or stay and fight an even battle. “Who are you?” they snapped. I told them that I was the guy that was trying to give them a chance to either walk away or receive a major ass whooping -- plus get arrested when the police arrived.
Pretty bold huh?
I really wasn’t trying to play the hero. I was scared, but it worked. The two thugs ran away. The guy who was getting mugged lived across the street. The people who were watching from the porch were his neighbors!
His neighbors!
The two thugs were black and the young man, and ALL of the people watching from porch were white. They didn’t raise one finger to help!
It doesn’t matter what color you are. Say something! Do something! Before it’s too late…
Makes me wonder if we haven't turned into a Nation of cowards. I hope I never come on a situation as you did. If I do, however, I hope I acquit myself in as honorable a manor. I've stood off those who would try to mug me, but I wonder if I'd help someone else out. I like to think I would. Be listening Sunday night.
Posted by: Billiam | February 09, 2007 at 08:08 PM
James, I guess more "recreational facilities" and "midnight basketball" isn't the solution. Values passed on from Mom and Dad to the children may be???
Posted by: mickey | February 21, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Wow, that's amazing. I've never come upon such a situation, I hope I have the courage to do what you did if I ever do.
I hope you yelled at the neighbors afterwards, that's insane.
Posted by: Matt | February 23, 2007 at 08:12 AM
The problem is, in a word, FEAR.
Do I think all 50 people on the bus are racist? No.
These people need to ride the bus at the same time everday. If they spoke to the cops, someone would get a beating within weeks.
The people on the porch are the same way. The muggers have 20 different addresses and aliases, the home owners have one.
Have you ever noticed that the JS always gives the names of victims, but the perp is not ID'ed?
Given our judicial system, the muggers would be back in weeks or days to exact revenge.
(Nice 'make-work' scheme for law enforcement and judicial system, eh?)
We have put such a PC halo around the criminals, that nobody trusts that we will be protected when we take action. In fact, we'd get labeled racist and get sued (the former being worse).
For the most part white people (our leaders especially) have been neutered, so it's up to people like you to save this community.
Thanks for being a good guy!!
Posted by: Andy | February 26, 2007 at 09:53 PM