City Journal Audio New York Confronts Ideological Violence
Aug 8, 2025
Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor at the New York Times, delves into New York City's escalating random acts of violence. She discusses the motivations behind attacks by lone actors, the rise of anti-capitalist sentiments, and the challenges this poses to public safety. The conversation also touches on the urgent need for better firearms legislation linked to mental health issues. Gelinas highlights the evolving landscape of urban security and the NYPD's recruitment struggles in addressing these threats.
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Random Acts Are Hard To Prevent
- Random, ideologically driven attacks will sometimes be unavoidable in a free society.
- New York's prevention tools fail when attackers come with no local ties.
Out-Of-State Attackers Target NYC
- Several recent attackers traveled to New York with no local ties and targeted institutions.
- Examples include Luigi Mangione and the subway attacker Frank James.
Anti-Capitalist Violence Is Resurgent
- Anti-capitalist sentiment has revived and inspires attacks on corporate targets.
- These attacks signal a political strain that can justify violence to some.
