Urban Onramps

I had this sort of experience in Vancouver, Canada

London’s The Observer: Andrew Anthony: The Day Reality Hit Home:

A few weeks before that incident, my stepdaughter was set upon in a busy high street by a gang of teenagers in an unprovoked attack. Scores of adults looked on and not one of them did or said anything to help. When she described how grown-up faces turned away from her as kicks and punches flew, I could only conclude that everyone was waiting. They were waiting for society to change, for it to become less unfair, with more equitable wealth distribution, so that street violence would miraculously disappear. They were waiting for schools to improve, and more youth centres to be built, and better housing. Or they were waiting for the police, the police who ought to be everywhere at all times but who should also maintain a low profile. Or perhaps they were just waiting for somebody else, anybody but themselves.

In my case it was the International Fireworks Show, sometime in 1998 or 97. 10-12 young white males were beating the snot out of 2 small, dark-skinned boys. At least a thousand people were walking away from the lake’s edge, the fireworks show having just concluded. No one intervened to stop the pummeling, not until I and another woman (our host) ran into the melee. The woman cursed at the top of her lungs, full of rage, yelling at the boys to stop. I ran and dove onto one of the boys being beaten. I reasoned that the attackers would see that I was not involved and relent. Instead I got kicked - hard - in the face, just above my lip. But between that woman and me, the mob spirit broke. Then the police sauntered up, pushing their bikes, and asked if there was a problem.

posted Aug 19, 2007, 5:22am by Rodolpho Carrasco