Click on a word or part of a phrase to learn more.
Scroll through the captions and click 
to skip to a caption.
Play video to start
Man.
Man
By the way, fabulous.
By
the
way
fabulous
Read the book, fabulous.
Read
the
book
fabulous
Gripping, suspenseful.
Gripping
suspenseful
Explain-- this is my wheelhouse.
Explain-
this
is
my
wheelhouse
I'm in my 60s.
I'm
in
my
60s
This is when I moved to the city,
This
is
when
I
moved
to
the
city
during the Bernie Goetz era.
during
the
Bernie
Goetz
era
So I felt it with a nostalgia.
So
I
felt
it
with
a
nostalgia
But explain.
But
explain
I was in the office with kids, and they were like,
I
was
in
the
office
with
kids
and
they
were
like
who's Bernie Goetz?
who's
Bernie
Goetz
And I was like, what?
And
I
was
like
what
I had to say to them, 30 years from now,
I
had
to
say
to
them
30
years
from
now
people will be saying to you, who's Diddy?
people
will
be
saying
to
you
who's
Diddy
And you're like, what?
And
you're
like
what
Yeah.
Yeah
No, I remember it as well.
No
I
remember
it
as
well
I remember coming up to New York in the '80s.
I
remember
coming
up
to
New
York
in
the
'80s
This event happens and it kind of took us all back then.
This
event
happens
and
it
kind
of
took
us
all
back
then
But I've been thinking about it again.
But
I've
been
thinking
about
it
again
And I thought, we need to know who this guy is.
And
I
thought
we
need
to
know
who
this
guy
is
Explain-- Bernie Goetz, this is 1984.
Explain-
Bernie
Goetz
this
is
1984
He shoots four young Black males on a subway train.
He
shoots
four
young
Black
males
on
a
subway
train
- That's right. - In Manhattan.
That's
right
In
Manhattan
Yeah.
Yeah
And it's close quarters.
And
it's
close
quarters
And he's on there for 5 minutes.
And
he's
on
there
for
5
minutes
And within those 5 minutes, he's
And
within
those
5
minutes
he's
decided he doesn't like the gleam in one of their eyes.
decided
he
doesn't
like
the
gleam
in
one
of
their
eyes
The kid asks him for $5.
The
kid
asks
him
for
5
Panhandling, as we remember--
Panhandling
as
we
remember-
big thing in New York in the '80s.
big
thing
in
New
York
in
the
'80s
And he turns and pulls out a 38 Smith and Wesson--
And
he
turns
and
pulls
out
a
38
Smith
and
Wesson-
just takes them out.
just
takes
them
out
One in the chest.
One
in
the
chest
His friend in the back was trying to get away.
His
friend
in
the
back
was
trying
to
get
away
The next kid trying to get away-- in the arm,
The
next
kid
trying
to
get
away-
in
the
arm
goes through his lungs.
goes
through
his
lungs
And then the fourth kid, he misses.
And
then
the
fourth
kid
he
misses
But then he goes over to him, quaking in fear,
But
then
he
goes
over
to
him
quaking
in
fear
waiting, hoping the guy is going to go away.
waiting
hoping
the
guy
is
going
to
go
away
And he says, you look all right, here's another.
And
he
says
you
look
all
right
here's
another
And he shoots him point blank range, severing his spinal cord
And
he
shoots
him
point
blank
range
severing
his
spinal
cord
and paralyzing him.
and
paralyzing
him
But then he becomes a hero to all New Yorkers--
But
then
he
becomes
a
hero
to
all
New
Yorkers-
except for not quite all New Yorkers.
except
for
not
quite
all
New
Yorkers
The New Yorkers who thought, yeah, we
The
New
Yorkers
who
thought
yeah
we
need a Charles Bronson.
need
a
Charles
Bronson
We need a Dirty Harry in the city to take care of business.
We
need
a
Dirty
Harry
in
the
city
to
take
care
of
business
And I felt like that moment had a lot
And
I
felt
like
that
moment
had
a
lot
to tell us about the moment we're in, where violence is,
to
tell
us
about
the
moment
we're
in
where
violence
is
again, unleashed, legally OK--
again
unleashed
legally
OK-
where a guy in Minneapolis can literally be shot in the head.
where
a
guy
in
Minneapolis
can
literally
be
shot
in
the
head
And we are told that up is down, down is up.
And
we
are
told
that
up
is
down
down
is
up
We didn't see what we thought we saw.
We
didn't
see
what
we
thought
we
saw
I think this is a beginning story to that.
I
think
this
is
a
beginning
story
to
that
And by the way, the description
And
by
the
way
the
description
that you're making of what happened,
that
you're
making
of
what
happened
that's not even your interpretation.
that's
not
even
your
interpretation
That's his interpretation.
That's
his
interpretation
Bernie Goetz gave interviews to the Concord Police
Bernie
Goetz
gave
interviews
to
the
Concord
Police
and to other people saying, and I
and
to
other
people
saying
and
I
went up to the kid, the fourth kid, and went you seem OK
went
up
to
the
kid
the
fourth
kid
and
went
you
seem
OK
and I shot.
and
I
shot
That's his description of it, not--
That's
his
description
of
it
not-
and this is in the time, so you have to set the scene.
and
this
is
in
the
time
so
you
have
to
set
the
scene
There's no iPhones, there's no anything.
There's
no
iPhones
there's
no
anything
It really is the unreliability of eyewitness accounts
It
really
is
the
unreliability
of
eyewitness
accounts
in a kind of frenetic moment.
in
a
kind
of
frenetic
moment
But the thing is, people had already decided he was a hero.
But
the
thing
is
people
had
already
decided
he
was
a
hero
And that's kind of what I wanted to get into.
And
that's
kind
of
what
I
wanted
to
get
into
He goes on the lam.
He
goes
on
the
lam
He disappears into the subway tunnels.
He
disappears
into
the
subway
tunnels
People don't even know who he is.
People
don't
even
know
who
he
is
And he's already on the front page.
And
he's
already
on
the
front
page
He was known as a subway vigilante.
He
was
known
as
a
subway
vigilante
When he turns himself in, he gives
When
he
turns
himself
in
he
gives
this two-hour detailed confession.
this
two-hour
detailed
confession
Robbery had nothing to do with it.
Robbery
had
nothing
to
do
with
it
JON STEWART: That's right.
JON
STEWART:
That's
right
Previously being mugged had nothing to do with it.
Previously
being
mugged
had
nothing
to
do
with
it
And it's not going to matter.
And
it's
not
going
to
matter
It's not going to matter when he goes to trial.
It's
not
going
to
matter
when
he
goes
to
trial
It's not going to matter to so many New Yorkers.
It's
not
going
to
matter
to
so
many
New
Yorkers
And I think we got to look at that moment because today,
And
I
think
we
got
to
look
at
that
moment
because
today
we're kind of there again.
we're
kind
of
there
again
We see it.
We
see
it
We see a videotape.
We
see
a
videotape
But yet we're told--
But
yet
we're
told-
It actually felt. It's hard to underestimate
It
actually
felt
It's
hard
to
underestimate
how popular Bernie Goetz was in that moment.
how
popular
Bernie
Goetz
was
in
that
moment
We all remember.
We
all
remember
The city back then was super fun.
The
city
back
then
was
super
fun
I was young.
I
was
young
It was completely lawless.
It
was
completely
lawless
I lived on the Canal Street stop,
I
lived
on
the
Canal
Street
stop
so one stop before he shot him around Chambers Street,
so
one
stop
before
he
shot
him
around
Chambers
Street
I guess.
I
guess
And it was--
And
it
was-
I used to come home from work at my restaurant job.
I
used
to
come
home
from
work
at
my
restaurant
job
2 in the morning on the subways.
2
in
the
morning
on
the
subways
Luckily, I looked pathetic enough, nobody bothered me.
Luckily
I
looked
pathetic
enough
nobody
bothered
me
It was a hustle back then.
It
was
a
hustle
back
then
A lot of drugs.
A
lot
of
drugs
Yeah, bad news.
Yeah
bad
news
I mean, it's '84, right?
I
mean
it's
'84
right
And it's the height of the Reagan '80s.
And
it's
the
height
of
the
Reagan
'80s
Everything's getting stripped.
Everything's
getting
stripped
Public resources are getting stripped.
Public
resources
are
getting
stripped
Trash is piling up.
Trash
is
piling
up
People are turning to the illegal economy of drugs.
People
are
turning
to
the
illegal
economy
of
drugs
But here's the thing-- they are being told that the problem is
But
here's
the
thing-
they
are
being
told
that
the
problem
is
not the change in the economy that Reagan
not
the
change
in
the
economy
that
Reagan
had really implemented.
had
really
implemented
The problem was people worse off than them.
The
problem
was
people
worse
off
than
them
So again, that playbook is really
So
again
that
playbook
is
really
getting cemented right then.
getting
cemented
right
then
No, once again, they're being told,
No
once
again
they're
being
told
it's not any systemic failures.
it's
not
any
systemic
failures
It's people like these four kids.
It's
people
like
these
four
kids
Those four kids were a stand-in.
Those
four
kids
were
a
stand-in
And by the way, they were there to rob, just not people.
And
by
the
way
they
were
there
to
rob
just
not
people
They were going to pop pinball machines for coins.
They
were
going
to
pop
pinball
machines
for
coins
They were on their way to a video arcade to jimmy them open
They
were
on
their
way
to
a
video
arcade
to
jimmy
them
open
and get quarters.
and
get
quarters
Because again, they're from the South Bronx,
Because
again
they're
from
the
South
Bronx
and that area has also been completely
and
that
area
has
also
been
completely
stripped of resources.
stripped
of
resources
Jobs are gone, and they need some money.
Jobs
are
gone
and
they
need
some
money
But that context is what gets lost.
But
that
context
is
what
gets
lost
Context stops mattering, basically.
Context
stops
mattering
basically
His bullets were a stand-in for the frustration
His
bullets
were
a
stand-in
for
the
frustration
that people felt for what they thought
that
people
felt
for
what
they
thought
was an unmanageable city.
was
an
unmanageable
city
And it wasn't just--
And
it
wasn't
just-
New York City.
New
York
City
And I can remember my grandfather drove
And
I
can
remember
my
grandfather
drove
a cab and my other grandfather ran a dry cleaner
a
cab
and
my
other
grandfather
ran
a
dry
cleaner
in Washington Heights.
in
Washington
Heights
They were very familiar with property
They
were
very
familiar
with
property
crime and all those things.
crime
and
all
those
things
But New York City, from the '60s and
But
New
York
City
from
the
'60s
and
'70s after the oil shock--
'70s
after
the
oil
shock-
I mean, New York City was broke in '75.
I
mean
New
York
City
was
broke
in
'75
It was fraying at the seams for many years.
It
was
fraying
at
the
seams
for
many
years
Well, the fiscal crisis was devastating.
Well
the
fiscal
crisis
was
devastating
But the thing is, that crisis begins
But
the
thing
is
that
crisis
begins
to rebound in other places--
to
rebound
in
other
places-
other places on the globe.
other
places
on
the
globe
It was a global crisis But what happens is Reagan gets elected,
It
was
a
global
crisis
But
what
happens
is
Reagan
gets
elected
and he sort of doubles down on the austerity,
and
he
sort
of
doubles
down
on
the
austerity
rather than rebounding.
rather
than
rebounding
But meanwhile, the rich are getting richer, richer, richer.
But
meanwhile
the
rich
are
getting
richer
richer
richer
But the eye isn't on that ball.
But
the
eye
isn't
on
that
ball
The eye is on the misery.
The
eye
is
on
the
misery
And whose fault is it?
And
whose
fault
is
it
And the thing is, I think-- the book,
And
the
thing
is
I
think-
the
book
I hope, really kind of lays bare-- it's curated.
I
hope
really
kind
of
lays
bare-
it's
curated
You've got this media that's curating
You've
got
this
media
that's
curating
this outrage, this racial outrage, particularly.
this
outrage
this
racial
outrage
particularly
The echoes of today.
The
echoes
of
today
It's not even that they're echoes.
It's
not
even
that
they're
echoes
It's the same people.
It's
the
same
people
The guy running the media machine that
The
guy
running
the
media
machine
that
lionized Bernie Goetz was--
lionized
Bernie
Goetz
was-
Rupert Murdoch's New York Post.
Rupert
Murdoch's
New
York
Post
They're all like, I've heard of that guy.
They're
all
like
I've
heard
of
that
guy
I don't like what he does at all.
I
don't
like
what
he
does
at
all
That's right.
That's
right
That was when he made his bones.
That
was
when
he
made
his
bones
That's right.
That's
right
That's what allows him to really make
That's
what
allows
him
to
really
make
his mark in New York City.
his
mark
in
New
York
City
And it's what's going to pave the way for Fox News.
And
it's
what's
going
to
pave
the
way
for
Fox
News
And it's not just him.
And
it's
not
just
him
Giuliani's on the scene here.
Giuliani's
on
the
scene
here
And Trump is on the scene here.
And
Trump
is
on
the
scene
here
So all these guys--
So
all
these
guys-
Trump and Goetz mirror each other, in that both raised and
Trump
and
Goetz
mirror
each
other
in
that
both
raised
and
both have frustrations, both have that same antagonism
both
have
frustrations
both
have
that
same
antagonism
towards what they consider to be the underclass
towards
what
they
consider
to
be
the
underclass
that doesn't belong there.
that
doesn't
belong
there
Yeah, but Trump is watching this case.
Yeah
but
Trump
is
watching
this
case
He is watching what happens.
He
is
watching
what
happens
When someone does something like this, what's the response?
When
someone
does
something
like
this
what's
the
response
And the response becomes his base.
And
the
response
becomes
his
base
The response becomes, that's what I
The
response
becomes
that's
what
I
need to take the White House.
need
to
take
the
White
House
I have to say, it's a story that even surprised me.
I
have
to
say
it's
a
story
that
even
surprised
me
And he didn't really-- did he jump in on the Bernie Goetz?
And
he
didn't
really-
did
he
jump
in
on
the
Bernie
Goetz
I know that he jumped in on what was so-called
I
know
that
he
jumped
in
on
what
was
so-called
the Central Park Five.
the
Central
Park
Five
That's right.
That's
right
So he waits.
So
he
waits
He doesn't jump in on this case,
He
doesn't
jump
in
on
this
case
but he's very much central to that coverage of the time,
but
he's
very
much
central
to
that
coverage
of
the
time
The New York Post coverage.
The
New
York
Post
coverage
And Giuliani is the real link between them there.
And
Giuliani
is
the
real
link
between
them
there
And Giuliani's New York, the New York that's
And
Giuliani's
New
York
the
New
York
that's
going to come out of this.
going
to
come
out
of
this
And the same way they set the hyperbolic tone
And
the
same
way
they
set
the
hyperbolic
tone
for today with immigrants, they set with people from--
for
today
with
immigrants
they
set
with
people
from-
I mean, you would have thought.
I
mean
you
would
have
thought
I lived here, man.
I
lived
here
man
It was actually really fun.
It
was
actually
really
fun
It was a little more dangerous than probably it is today,
It
was
a
little
more
dangerous
than
probably
it
is
today
but not crazily so.
but
not
crazily
so
But they made it out to be--
But
they
made
it
out
to
be-
I remember the headlines were, Time Magazine,
I
remember
the
headlines
were
Time
Magazine
"Super Predators."
Super
Predators
Young Black kids-- they're super soldiers
Young
Black
kids-
they're
super
soldiers
that will kill you.
that
will
kill
you
Wilding was the big--
Wilding
was
the
big-
that would be considered a social media thing back then.
that
would
be
considered
a
social
media
thing
back
then
But that was-- and people really
But
that
was-
and
people
really
took out their frustration on these kids who
took
out
their
frustration
on
these
kids
who
weren't perfect victims, but they certainly
weren't
perfect
victims
but
they
certainly
weren't the masterminds and evildoers
weren't
the
masterminds
and
evildoers
that they were made out to be.
that
they
were
made
out
to
be
But they're made into the victims.
But
they're
made
into
the
victims
I mean, I'm sorry-- into the villains, not the victims--
I
mean
I'm
sorry-
into
the
villains
not
the
victims-
overnight.
overnight
These are kids that have racked up
These
are
kids
that
have
racked
up
a lot of misdemeanor offenses, jumping the subway turnstiles.
a
lot
of
misdemeanor
offenses
jumping
the
subway
turnstiles
The minute they get shot, all of a sudden,
The
minute
they
get
shot
all
of
a
sudden
judges are turning those misdemeanor
judges
are
turning
those
misdemeanor
citations into warrants for their arrests.
citations
into
warrants
for
their
arrests
The hate mail that's pouring into their apartments,
The
hate
mail
that's
pouring
into
their
apartments
to the hospital.
to
the
hospital
And their lives are destroyed by this.
And
their
lives
are
destroyed
by
this
But at the end of the day, they never get grace.
But
at
the
end
of
the
day
they
never
get
grace
They never get to be the victims.
They
never
get
to
be
the
victims
And so we didn't even know who they were.
And
so
we
didn't
even
know
who
they
were
We didn't know their names.
We
didn't
know
their
names
So for me, in the book, it was really important to lay bare
So
for
me
in
the
book
it
was
really
important
to
lay
bare
what are the costs of all this violence?
what
are
the
costs
of
all
this
violence
What are the costs of unleashing this kind of rage
What
are
the
costs
of
unleashing
this
kind
of
rage
and then saying it's perfectly legal, OK.
and
then
saying
it's
perfectly
legal
OK
We begin to see why do we get a Trayvon Martin situation?
We
begin
to
see
why
do
we
get
a
Trayvon
Martin
situation
Why is George Zimmerman allowed to do what he's allowed to do?
Why
is
George
Zimmerman
allowed
to
do
what
he's
allowed
to
do
Well, yeah, it traces all the way back.
Well
yeah
it
traces
all
the
way
back
It just keeps going.
It
just
keeps
going
I was actually heartened at the racism, the letters
I
was
actually
heartened
at
the
racism
the
letters
to the editor.
to
the
editor
She puts in letters to the editor
She
puts
in
letters
to
the
editor
that people wrote to The Post and to The Daily News.
that
people
wrote
to
The
Post
and
to
The
Daily
News
I go on Twitter sometimes and I'm horrified
I
go
on
Twitter
sometimes
and
I'm
horrified
in the comment section.
in
the
comment
section
Like, oh my God.
Like
oh
my
God
How can people be this horrifying?
How
can
people
be
this
horrifying
But at least there, they go by CupBoy101.
But
at
least
there
they
go
by
CupBoy101
These are letters to the editor that are like, these animals.
These
are
letters
to
the
editor
that
are
like
these
animals
And using the N word and saying horrible things about them.
And
using
the
N
word
and
saying
horrible
things
about
them
Yours truly, Louis Vitarelli.
Yours
truly
Louis
Vitarelli
They just put their name on it.
They
just
put
their
name
on
it
And back in the day, you couldn't just--
And
back
in
the
day
you
couldn't
just-
you had to buy a stamp.
you
had
to
buy
a
stamp
You had to walk that thing to a post office box.
You
had
to
walk
that
thing
to
a
post
office
box
That's commitment.
That's
commitment
And the thing is, not just letters
And
the
thing
is
not
just
letters
coming to the editors in New York.
coming
to
the
editors
in
New
York
Coming to them.
Coming
to
them
And coming to the boys, coming to New York Post
And
coming
to
the
boys
coming
to
New
York
Post
from Colorado, from California.
from
Colorado
from
California
This becomes a national phenomenon
This
becomes
a
national
phenomenon
because it touched a moment that was really shifting.
because
it
touched
a
moment
that
was
really
shifting
Rebirth of white rage--
Rebirth
of
white
rage-
white rage is ubiquitous in American history.
white
rage
is
ubiquitous
in
American
history
But this is a moment when it gets unleashed like it
But
this
is
a
moment
when
it
gets
unleashed
like
it
hadn't been since the 19th century and legally OK,
hadn't
been
since
the
19th
century
and
legally
OK
like it hadn't been.
like
it
hadn't
been
And by the way, Bernie Goetz was not convicted of attempted
And
by
the
way
Bernie
Goetz
was
not
convicted
of
attempted
murder or any of those things.
murder
or
any
of
those
things
They got him on--
They
got
him
on-
Carrying an illegal weapon.
Carrying
an
illegal
weapon
And this is a fascinating-- this is another dichotomy that
And
this
is
a
fascinating-
this
is
another
dichotomy
that
I think is really interesting, because so much
I
think
is
really
interesting
because
so
much
of the conditions that those young men grew up in were
of
the
conditions
that
those
young
men
grew
up
in
were
so difficult. If you look at the life
so
difficult
If
you
look
at
the
life
of Bernie Goetz and those kids, they're somewhat parallel.
of
Bernie
Goetz
and
those
kids
they're
somewhat
parallel
But the difference is grace.
But
the
difference
is
grace
The difference is margin of error.
The
difference
is
margin
of
error
So Bernie Goetz's dad is arrested
So
Bernie
Goetz's
dad
is
arrested
for suspicion of child molestation,
for
suspicion
of
child
molestation
real serious stuff.
real
serious
stuff
He plea bargains down to a disturbing the peace
He
plea
bargains
down
to
a
disturbing
the
peace
misdemeanor, some kind of thing and
misdemeanor
some
kind
of
thing
and
continues and is wealthy and sends Bernie to a prep
continues
and
is
wealthy
and
sends
Bernie
to
a
prep
school in Switzerland.
school
in
Switzerland
The kid who got shot and paralyzed,
The
kid
who
got
shot
and
paralyzed
his dad's a truck driver who's killed.
his
dad's
a
truck
driver
who's
killed
Trying to defend his truck from a would-be thief.
Trying
to
defend
his
truck
from
a
would-be
thief
And those two moments really typify
And
those
two
moments
really
typify
what grace does to the trajectory of a person's life.
what
grace
does
to
the
trajectory
of
a
person's
life
And the ultimate irony is these kids' first introduction
And
the
ultimate
irony
is
these
kids'
first
introduction
to the criminal justice system is for misdemeanor bullshit--
to
the
criminal
justice
system
is
for
misdemeanor
bullshit-
jumping a turnstile, smoking some dope.
jumping
a
turnstile
smoking
some
dope
Bernie Goetz is a dope smoker with illegal guns
Bernie
Goetz
is
a
dope
smoker
with
illegal
guns
whose dad bargained down--
whose
dad
bargained
down-
He's got marijuana in his apartment when he's arrested
He's
got
marijuana
in
his
apartment
when
he's
arrested
and no one blinks an eye.
and
no
one
blinks
an
eye
This is at a time period in New York City
This
is
at
a
time
period
in
New
York
City
when if you get arrested for marijuana,
when
if
you
get
arrested
for
marijuana
you're off to Attica.
you're
off
to
Attica
You are off to one of New York's building prisons.
You
are
off
to
one
of
New
York's
building
prisons
And so I guess it's always curious to me
And
so
I
guess
it's
always
curious
to
me
that people don't draw the parallel
that
people
don't
draw
the
parallel
of what margin of error means to the future of a person.
of
what
margin
of
error
means
to
the
future
of
a
person
Today, is he repentant in any way, do you know?
Today
is
he
repentant
in
any
way
do
you
know
No.
No
He's not repentant or you don't know?
He's
not
repentant
or
you
don't
know
No, he's not repentant.
No
he's
not
repentant
When Kyle Rittenhouse goes and shoots people,
When
Kyle
Rittenhouse
goes
and
shoots
people
he is weighing in and supports him.
he
is
weighing
in
and
supports
him
When Daniel Penny chokes out someone
When
Daniel
Penny
chokes
out
someone
on a subway in the modern iteration of this,
on
a
subway
in
the
modern
iteration
of
this
he's supportive.
he's
supportive
So no.
So
no
But again, that's the grace.
But
again
that's
the
grace
He's asked the question, what do you think about this?
He's
asked
the
question
what
do
you
think
about
this
And he gets to weigh in.
And
he
gets
to
weigh
in
And then meanwhile, the wreckage of his act
And
then
meanwhile
the
wreckage
of
his
act
gets completely erased from the memory.
gets
completely
erased
from
the
memory
How many of these young boys are still alive?
How
many
of
these
young
boys
are
still
alive
Only two.
Only
two
Only two.
Only
two
One committed suicide. - Yup.
One
committed
suicide
Yup
And the other--
And
the
other-
One of them ends up in prison.
One
of
them
ends
up
in
prison
He was battling a drug addiction after this.
He
was
battling
a
drug
addiction
after
this
He ends up locked up.
He
ends
up
locked
up
And of course, prison will slowly kill you.
And
of
course
prison
will
slowly
kill
you
So he comes home and dies shortly thereafter.
So
he
comes
home
and
dies
shortly
thereafter
So two are left.
So
two
are
left
And the one-- the real--
And
the
one-
the
real-
I think it's the center of the story that I try to tell--
I
think
it's
the
center
of
the
story
that
I
try
to
tell-
was not just paralyzed, but then suffered
was
not
just
paralyzed
but
then
suffered
pretty severe brain damage from going into a coma
pretty
severe
brain
damage
from
going
into
a
coma
after his injury.
after
his
injury
So all of these young teenagers are fighting for their life,
So
all
of
these
young
teenagers
are
fighting
for
their
life
but the media is celebrating the vigilante.
but
the
media
is
celebrating
the
vigilante
Again, that up is down, down is up moment--
Again
that
up
is
down
down
is
up
moment-
I think we have to reckon with.
I
think
we
have
to
reckon
with
Absolutely.
Absolutely
And if you want to get yourselves nice and
And
if
you
want
to
get
yourselves
nice
and
boiled up and angry, read about how the media goes--
boiled
up
and
angry
read
about
how
the
media
goes-
so there's a ton of lawsuits.
so
there's
a
ton
of
lawsuits
This Goetz case dominated New York for years and years.
This
Goetz
case
dominated
New
York
for
years
and
years
And then there were civil lawsuits
And
then
there
were
civil
lawsuits
and all kinds of other things.
and
all
kinds
of
other
things
But read about how-- and I can't
But
read
about
how-
and
I
can't
remember if it was a reporter for the Post or The Daily News.
remember
if
it
was
a
reporter
for
the
Post
or
The
Daily
News
They go to-- was it Darrell Cabey?
They
go
to-
was
it
Darrell
Cabey
When he was at the--
When
he
was
at
the-
Jimmy Breslin goes to his hospital room.
Jimmy
Breslin
goes
to
his
hospital
room
Goes to his hospital room and interviews
Goes
to
his
hospital
room
and
interviews
him when he's knocked out.
him
when
he's
knocked
out
But then another guy goes and secretly records him.
But
then
another
guy
goes
and
secretly
records
him
Oh, this is--
Oh
this
is-
Bernie Goetz hires this paralegal investigator who
Bernie
Goetz
hires
this
paralegal
investigator
who
essentially goes and calls up Darrell,
essentially
goes
and
calls
up
Darrell
who is in a rehab center, poses as a doctor
who
is
in
a
rehab
center
poses
as
a
doctor
to try to get him to admit, basically, that he's
to
try
to
get
him
to
admit
basically
that
he's
not suffered any brain damage.
not
suffered
any
brain
damage
And then goes to the rehab facility
And
then
goes
to
the
rehab
facility
posing as someone who's just trying to get their brother in
posing
as
someone
who's
just
trying
to
get
their
brother
in
and films him.
and
films
him
But that was when Darrell Cabey's mother, who
But
that
was
when
Darrell
Cabey's
mother
who
was a true heroine in this story-- she refuses to let
was
a
true
heroine
in
this
story-
she
refuses
to
let
this go.
this
go
She doesn't want her son forgotten,
She
doesn't
want
her
son
forgotten
and so she files the civil suit on his behalf.
and
so
she
files
the
civil
suit
on
his
behalf
So there is a civil trial, and it
So
there
is
a
civil
trial
and
it
is a kind of extraordinary story
is
a
kind
of
extraordinary
story
where they're not giving up, but Bernie Goetz
where
they're
not
giving
up
but
Bernie
Goetz
gets to defend himself pro se.
gets
to
defend
himself
pro
se
So he gets to depose the young man that he shot
So
he
gets
to
depose
the
young
man
that
he
shot
and his mother.
and
his
mother
So it's this extraordinary--
So
it's
this
extraordinary-
yeah.
yeah
And that's where revelations come out in the trial that
And
that's
where
revelations
come
out
in
the
trial
that
didn't come out in the criminal trial where people go, oh,
didn't
come
out
in
the
criminal
trial
where
people
go
oh
I think we might have [BLEEP] this up,
I
think
we
might
have
BLEEP
this
up
where all the revelations about his own words and all that.
where
all
the
revelations
about
his
own
words
and
all
that
And ultimately, he does lose the civil suit, yes?
And
ultimately
he
does
lose
the
civil
suit
yes
He does.
He
does
He gets a $43 million judgment against him
He
gets
a
43
million
judgment
against
him
thanks to a Bronx jury, but he doesn't pay a dime.
thanks
to
a
Bronx
jury
but
he
doesn't
pay
a
dime
So all in all, it's quite a happy tale.
So
all
in
all
it's
quite
a
happy
tale
Don't tell me how it ends.
Don't
tell
me
how
it
ends
It's remarkable.
It's
remarkable
And I have to say, it's such a time and place that I remember
And
I
have
to
say
it's
such
a
time
and
place
that
I
remember
so well as a young man.
so
well
as
a
young
man
And you captured it remarkably and beautifully
And
you
captured
it
remarkably
and
beautifully
in all of its contradictions and cleavages.
in
all
of
its
contradictions
and
cleavages
And the city was torn apart in those days,
And
the
city
was
torn
apart
in
those
days
so really nicely, nicely done.
so
really
nicely
nicely
done
Thank you.
Thank
you
Thank you for being here.
Thank
you
for
being
here
It's called Fear and Fury.
It's
called
Fear
and
Fury
It's available now.
It's
available
now
Heather Ann Thompson.
Heather
Ann
Thompson
- Pause
0.5x - Slower
0.75x - Slow
1.0x - Normal
Your daily language practice
Click ?
for definitions and explanations
Click
to start from the beginning
Click
to go back to the previous caption
Click
to change the talking speed
Tip of the day
Embrace being a beginner - every expert started exactly where you are.
Keep going - you're doing great!
These features are available only to paying subscribers
Slow the playback rate.
Sometimes native speakers talk very quickly. Catch every word by reducing the speed of the video.
Your own teacher.
If you are unsure of any word or phrase then the AI assistant can help you understand.
You might also like these videos
If you enjoy using our custom video player, why not join thousands of subscribers who have signed up to our free weekly lessons?