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Speaking from the Brooklyn station where the gruesome crime occurred, Sliwa emphasized the need for increased manpower and vigilance. “We’re going to have to increase our numbers, increase the training, and increase our presence as we did back in 1979,” he told reporters. “The need is here now once again. We’re going to step up.”
Sliwa recounted how the group grew from 13 to 1,000 members in just one year during its early days. He expressed confidence that similar momentum could be achieved now, as the public has been calling on the group for help. “Hundreds of citizens” have reached out to request Guardian Angels patrols, Sliwa revealed.
The group has already begun comprehensive subway patrols, covering entire trains and monitoring activity to ensure passenger safety. “We’re doing this constantly now,” Sliwa said. “Starting today, that’s going to be our complete focus because the subways are out of control.”
Despite an overall 6% decline in subway crime this year, the murder rate has skyrocketed by nearly 60%, nearing record highs. This week alone, a homeless man pushed an unsuspecting passenger onto the tracks at a Manhattan station. Miraculously, the victim survived by landing in the trench between the rails.
Incidents like this, paired with the rise in unprovoked violence, have left New Yorkers rattled. Many of the assailants involved in these attacks have extensive criminal histories, often including prior assaults on police officers.
During an appearance on Fox News, Sliwa coined the term “Daniel Penny effect” to describe what he sees as a paralyzing fear among New Yorkers to step in during violent situations. This stems from the controversial case of Daniel Penny, who faced manslaughter charges after intervening against a threatening homeless man on the subway. Penny’s eventual acquittal did little to erase the chilling effect the case has had on public behavior.
“The Daniel Penney paralysis of mostly men who normally might have gotten involved,” Sliwa explained. “The guy who set her afire took his jacket off and fanned the flames, and nobody stopped him. It shows you the Daniel Penney effect, and it’s totally emasculating this city.”
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As New York grapples with surging violence and its citizens hesitate to act, the Guardian Angels are once again rising to the occasion. For Sliwa, the mission is clear: restore order and remind New Yorkers of their collective responsibility to protect one another.
“This city has faced darkness before, and we’ve always found a way out,” Sliwa said. “We’re not going to stop until we bring that sense of safety back to the subways and the streets.”
With the Guardian Angels stepping up their patrols, many hope their presence will provide a sense of security—and a call to action for New Yorkers to reclaim their city.
