Surveillance footage that has now gone viral shows a New York University freshman minding her own business on her walk to class when a man runs up from behind, slaps her and shoves her to the pavement. The chilling clip, shared by the student herself, makes plain what too many New Yorkers already fear: public streets are no longer safe for ordinary citizens going about their day.
The victim, 20-year-old Amelia Lewis, described the attack in emotional posts and interviews, saying she was knocked off her feet and left in shock as bystanders rushed to help. Lewis’s plea is simple and unvarnished — campuses should not be battlegrounds and young women should not live in fear of walking to a 9:30 a.m. class. Her account has put a human face on the consequences of decades of soft-on-crime policies in our largest cities.
Police say they have taken 45-year-old James Rizzo into custody and charged him with persistent sexual abuse, forcible touching and assault after linking him to the attack. Rizzo, a homeless man with a long criminal record, reportedly has more than a dozen prior arrests, making this not an isolated lapse but a predictable result of failed rehabilitation and enforcement. Americans deserve to know why repeat offenders are back on the streets and why victims keep paying the price.
It wasn’t video from city cameras alone that led to the arrest — a friend of Lewis obtained surveillance footage from a nearby store and shared it, turning public pressure into police action. Reports say Rizzo was later arrested during a burglary where stolen items tied him to other crimes, underscoring the pattern of repeat conduct that authorities and elected officials have allowed to fester. This is the kind of common-sense investigative lead that too often goes missing when officials cut police resources and ignore parole supervision.
This attack is a stark reminder that “compassion” policies without accountability leave citizens exposed and neighborhoods unsafe. Homelessness, untreated mental illness and a revolving door for criminals are real problems, not excuses — and they demand real solutions like tougher enforcement, secure supervision of parolees, and funding for mental health and housing programs that actually work. Voters should reject the false choice between compassion and safety; we can enforce the law and restore order while helping those who need it most.
NYU officials say they are cooperating with police and offering support to the student, but institutions and city leaders cannot merely express concern — they must demand results from a system that has repeatedly failed front-line New Yorkers. Campus safety cannot be an afterthought while politicians trade press releases for action plans that never materialize. Parents and students paying top dollar for education expect campuses and city streets free from this kind of predatory violence.
Hardworking Americans should be angry and ready to act. Hold prosecutors and mayors accountable for their choices at the ballot box, demand that police be empowered to keep the peace, and stop tolerating the kind of lawlessness that turns sidewalks into danger zones. If we want our daughters and sons to walk to class or work without fear, it’s time to prioritize safety, restore common-sense enforcement, and elect leaders who will put citizens first.
