New Yorkers react to National Guard subway deployment with memes, jokes, anger, and confusion | Mashable.

The U.S. National Guard is checking bags in the New York City subway, and New Yorkers are confused

Nobody asked for this.
By Matthews Martins on 
Who wanted this? Credit: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

In a move accompanied by little, if any, public support, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has deployed the National Guard to New York City subways in a stated effort to crack down on crime. For New York City residents, all this effort will do is hassle people going about their business and increase the number of armed men and women scrolling their phones in subway stations.

I've lived in New York City for a decade now, unlike Hochul, and I've never seen a subway issue resolved by law enforcement. Not once. I have, however, seen quite a few officers scrolling their phones and hassling subway performers and unhoused individuals. So you might understand that New Yorkers were rather confused and taken aback by the governor sending 750 National Guard members to check bags and crack down on crime. Not to say there isn't any crime in New York City — there is, as there is anywhere — but rates are actually quite low. It's safer here than small-town America.

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Late last month, a conductor was slashed during the overnight hours of operation, which prompted transit workers to stage a job action during early morning rush hour. The work stoppage caused significant delays and frustration for commuters. And while that incident was terrible, it's one among millions of rides.

My local rep Emily Gallagher summed it up well, writing on X: "Ham-fisted and authoritarian response to several terrible incidents (even as the crime rate is falling ) that does nothing to foster real public safety but validates GOP propaganda about urban lawlessness in an election year. In other words, a predictable move by this Governor."

"The blowback was immediate" to Hochul's plan, wrote the New York Times. In short: New Yorkers were upset and wondering who, if anyone, asked for this response.

There were serious replies from New Yorkers, but there were also people who unleashed their exasperation through memes. Because what can you do but laugh when the governor deploys a battalion to your city?

There were a lot of jokes about what the National Guard might find searching normal folks' bags. There were also comments about ways people could mess with this new policy.

Of course, there were more serious takes because, well, it's a bit ludicrous to deploy the National Guard to the subway to search bags.

So, yes, there are now heavily armed people checking work bags on the subway. Who feels safer by that is entirely unclear. But at least we've got something to post about.

Topics  Memes

Comments

  1. Some times things are known that are not shared with the public.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 😋🌕🐃🌇👖 Don’t be afraid to be a little wild☺
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      Delete
    2. that is what I am afraid of.

      Delete
  2. There is no such thing as the US National Guard.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Obviously somebody asked for it, the National Guard does not just show up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 😄☄🐥🚕💛 Embrace your inner cuteness and let it shine🎖https://chadet.vercel.app/

      Delete
  4. It's time to proclaim new country:
    United States of America, China and Africa.
    One country with common, single currency (USD Dollar), free movement of goods and people and military alliance.

    ReplyDelete
  5. If Trump ordered this it would be racist and followed by riots. Good thing it was the Left's leaders. NYC can't afford any more violence.

    ReplyDelete
  6. How many terrorists have illegally crossed into the USA?

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  7. So it's illegal searches now?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Violation of posse comitatus

    ReplyDelete
  9. Biden's open-door border policies and soft on crime approach has caused crime to skyrocket. But, somehow, he thinks crime is down?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. can you share a link to where you are getting these stats?

      Delete
  10. Must be all the friendly illegal immigrants.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Did we not learn anything from 9/11?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks JOE BIDEN and MAYORKAS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello Everyone I am Michael Weirsky. Million Mega Lottery Winner in March 2019 From New Jersey. I have decided to Assist as Many Random People as I can.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ushering in the police state

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  15. Deploying the National Guard to keep law abiding citizens in check. Add the 15 minute city surveillance net over this and it creates a scenario where we are not free. Anyone see a problem with this?

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  16. Not good. Wrong direction for this great country. This is not what was conceived in our constitution of “We The People”.

    ReplyDelete
  17. When you are the one getting things taken from you you will thank those soldiers

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  18. It was like this in Italy. Their military were fully armed with assault rifles in and around the train stations.

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  19. They been doing this since 2001

    ReplyDelete
  20. That the freedoms of america

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  21. probably be more helpful at the lower and upper boarders, don't yah think?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lot crimes happening in the NY subway, that is why the N.Guard are there. The reason for more crimes ? Simple, cost of living in USA and low paying jobs = a lot of people looking for ways to buy food and pay rent. NY after the pandemic lots a lot of businesses and $$$.

      Delete
  22. this would be great if they were simply ON the trains NOT checking ANYONE, but just roving to keep criminals aware of their presence.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Facism, Martial Law...prepping you for the Dictator to come.

    ReplyDelete
  24. If the country was safe this shit would not exist

    ReplyDelete
  25. Maybe try the southern border instead ….

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. maybe you have a good solution for unemployment and high living costs in NY too.

      Delete
    2. those aren’t unique problems to NY …

      Delete
  26. Didn't "Jim Crow" Joe Biden say crime was down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes because crime is down. Having a hard time with facts are you?

      Delete
  27. I dont need fucking national guard to protect me

    ReplyDelete
  28. If there is no threat, there is an agenda.

    ReplyDelete
  29. So stop and frisk works?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. only a stupid boomer would think so

      Delete
    2. I resemble that remark

      Delete
  30. Typical! Government gets word on dangers & refuses to share. But just by actions, you know they got a tip that something is going down. Makes me sick they think human casualties is ok.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Stop and frisk didn't work in the Giuliani days. It's not going to work now.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Maybe they should be on your southern border checking the folks who are streaming into your country illegally instead 🤷🏻‍♂️

    ReplyDelete
  33. Exactly what those lib-tards deserve.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Way to try and shrink this issue down to only what you can comprehend. Since your brain simply snaps to "lib-tards". I know this will be extra hard for you to comprehend but try to understand that people are more than the labels you create for them.

      Delete
  34. Didn’t they say Trump was going to put the military in on the streets? 

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oh man can't wait for that clown show to go back live

      Delete
    2. it’s going on now

      Delete
  35. Can I 🏋️ you like masole schools 🏋️🔫 to no to protect 🚐💰 in is in out with ⚰️ one working end go out is not one end take the money amen

    ReplyDelete
  36. Good lord the person who penned this article seriously has no clue. While I think the Mayor/Gov are idiots and the NG should never have been called…Subway crime is up by 25-30% for major crimes (crime in the city has dramatically increased) and police are spread thin with (short staffed by a couple thousand)…this “authors” left leaning feelings are clearly evident with little to no actual substance in the article.

    ReplyDelete
  37. What was the governor thinking?! What a screw-up! The Dems need to replace her in the next election!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Good 'ol stop and frisk is back. Time to harass the masses ass'.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Mashable is so stupid. Democrats asked for it.

    ReplyDelete

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