SEPTA police offering $1K reward following attack on employee in Center City

SEPTA police are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of four suspects wanted in an attack on a SEPTA employee last week.

Video Transcript

- An attack against a SEPTA employee in Center City, Philadelphia has sparked outrage on the part of the Transport Workers Union and calls for the chief of SEPTA police to resign. I have been sent to headquarters as action news reporter George Solis tonight. George, statistics seem to show that working for SEPTA has become more dangerous in 2021.

GEORGE SOLIS: That's right, Jim, and the chief even acknowledged that so far this year things have not gotten off to a great start. That said, he defended his administration and says he has no plans to step down. We do want to warn viewers at home some of the video you're about to see may be graphic.

Footage released Thursday by the Transport Workers Union, which represents SEPTA transit employees, captured the harrowing moments as one of their own is swarmed by teenagers in an unprovoked assault at 15 Street Station in Center City. SEPTA officials said the brazen attack took place around 11:30 PM on March 15. The unnamed employee is said to be recovering at home with numerous injuries.

WILLIE BROWN: Almost he lost consciousness and is bruised up pretty bad, but he's come along.

CHIEF THOMAS NESTEL: This behavior is completely unacceptable, we don't want our employees or any-- any of our riders to suffer from that kind of behavior.

GEORGE SOLIS: SEPTA transit police chief Thomas Nestel held a press conference following the release of the video and calls from the union to resign amid allegations police are not doing enough from policy to transparency to protect employees and riders.

WILLIE BROWN: SEPTA does not want to report this because it gives them a black eye. I think they are trying to keep it hush hush.

GEORGE SOLIS: While SEPTA data given to Action News shows a general decrease in reported incidents against employees and things like harassment and physical assault between 2019 to 2020, Chief Nestel noted things so far in 2021 are less stable. The pandemic is posting several problems, especially in the realm of mental health. He said another challenge, making cases against offenders.

CHIEF THOMAS NESTEL: We need help from the mental health system. We need help from the justice system.

GEORGE SOLIS: The Workers Union is not the only group that's now called for a change in leadership.

TROY PARHAM: Been around 22 years and this is the lowest I've ever seen it.

GEORGE SOLIS: The Fraternal Order of transit police have also called for the chief to step down.

TROY PARHAM: It's now coming to a head and I think that it's just-- it's time.

GEORGE SOLIS: And again, the chief says he has no plans to step down. He also defended the number of officers he currently has, which is also called into question by the union. He did say he plans on adding security officers-- about 60 of them-- at some of SEPTA's most heavily traveled terminals. Your life in Center City tonight, George Solis, channel six Action News. Jim.

- Thank you George.

Recommended Stories

  • Callout Collection: Who UFC on ESPN 21 winners want next – and how likely they’ll get them

    Derek Brunson and Max Griffin were among those who name-dropped their preferred next opponents at UFC on ESPN 21 in Las Vegas.

  • For Asian American sports pros, stereotype is the challenger to beat

    Taiwanese American Jeremy Lin was the Knicks star player in 2012, handing his team a turnaround victory and sparking "Linsanity." But that didn't stop the racial slurs hurled at him then — and today. Why it matters: Lin has bounced around the NBA from team to team, and from the pros to the minor leagues and back. He's one of a handful of professional Asian American athletes who have broken color lines and struggled to open doors for athletes coming after them. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for freeBy the numbers: Asian Americans are among the fastest-growing U.S. ethnic groups, yet are underrepresented in professional sports. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for 20.4 million people in the U.S., roughly 6% of the nation's population. Still, they are vastly underrepresented in the NFL, the NBA and Major League Baseball.Scholars say Asian American children are stereotyped as strong students, blocking them out of the sports recruiting systems that pull in Black and Latino youth. Parents also seek to protect them from discrimination."Japanese Americans... were so traumatized by the incarceration during World War II that our parents told us to strive to be a professional. It's more secure. Sports is too fragile," Kerry Yo Nakagawa, director of the Nisei Baseball Research Project, told Axios.Sports organizations don't provide mentoring for Asian American athletes because they're perceived as "not really athletic," Stan Thangaraj, an anthropology professor at The City University of New York, told Global Sport Matters in 2018. Between the lines: Hearing slurs while scrimmaging as children also discourages young Asian Americans, Souichi Terada writes for the Guardian.Asian/Pacific Islander kids quit sports at the youngest age out of all racial groups, per data from the Aspen Institute. Details: Stereotypes today depict Asians as nerds, emasculate Asian men and fetishize Asian women as meek and submissive, according to the American Psychological Association, images that don't align with athletics.Of note: More than 120,000 Japanese Americans were ordered to internment camps during World War II. The internees organized baseball teams that were allowed to travel to play teams in other camps, Nakagawa said.Reality check: Asians and Asian Americans have been part of professional or semi-professional sports in the U.S. for nearly a century. Kenichi Zenimura, a Japanese immigrant and semi-pro baseball player, organized tours in 1927 that brought Yankees Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to play against Asian players.Chinese American Walter "Sneeze" Achiu broke into the NFL in 1927 to play for the Dayton Triangles.Diver Victoria Manalo Draves, the daughter of a Filpino father and an English mother, became the first Asian American Olympic champion after winning gold medals in 1948.In 1984, Indian American Alexi Singh Grewal became the first U.S. man to win Olympic gold in road cycling.At the 1992 Olympics, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi became the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal in any sport.In the late 1990s, Michelle Kwan became the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history.Natalie Nakase became the WNBA’s first Asian American player in 2003.Asian American athletes are now breaking ground in mixed martial arts (MMA). Joshua Quinlan has gained a following with his explosive punching and undefeated 4-0 professional record.Quinlan, who is Japanese and white, told Axios he has always been aware that fewer Asian Americans compete in MMA because of the stereotypes."I'm not letting that limit me," he said, adding that it's more important for him to "push through and be the example" for other Asian Americans who want to pursue the sport. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

  • Asda security guard jailed for trying to run over suspected shoplifter in van

    Stephen Johnson, 27, slashed at himself with a knife then lied to police he had been attacked.

  • Jury selection in 3rd week for ex-cop's trial in Floyd death

    Jury selection enters a third week Monday for a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd's death. Thirteen jurors have been seated for Derek Chauvin's trial on murder and manslaughter charges, with the judge saying two more will be seated ahead of opening statements expected March 29. The others will be alternates, needed only if some jurors are unable to to serve for any reason.

  • 3 killed in fiery California crash during high-speed pursuit

    Three people were killed in a fiery crash when a motorist fleeing a sheriff's deputy at around 100 miles an hour collided with multiple cars in central California, authorities said. The driver of a black Chevy Camaro sped away after the Fresno County deputy tried to pull him over for reckless driving late Saturday. When the suspect exited State Route 41, the deputy backed off the chase over safety concerns after the Camaro fishtailed and ran a red light near downtown Fresno, police said.

  • Brazil's neighbours build 'epidemiological barrier' to guard against out of control virus

    Brazil's neighbours are moving to form an 'epidemiological blockade' to prevent the staggering surge in coronavirus cases bleeding into the rest of the continent and threatening fledgling vaccination campaigns. Uruguay said it would dispatch what remained of the small country’s vaccine stash to the cities that border Brazil, in an effort to “seal off” the country from the new strain. Colombia has also been shoring up a blockade with a vaccination campaign for anyone over 18 in the Colombian Amazonian belt that borders Brazil. It announced last week that it had administered more than 22,000 vaccines so far. “We are under threat by the epidemiological situation in Brazil,” Uruguay’s Health Minister Daniel Salinas said Argentina, Peru and Chile have also taken steps to guard against the more contagious P1 variant, that is believed to have originated in the city of Manaus, in the Brazilian Amazon.

  • SpaceX is reportedly close to completing the assembly of a Super Heavy prototype, which will shoot Starship into orbit

    Elon Musk's SpaceX has completed "stacking" of its Super Heavy prototype, the booster that will shoot its Starship spacecraft into orbit, say reports

  • Richland deputies charge another in motorcycle ‘gang’ brawl

    This is the third person charged in the brawl.

  • Asians are good at math? Why dressing up racism as a compliment just doesn't add up

    Can being compared to a calculator ever be funny? Fox Television AnimationThe narrative that “Asians are good at math” is pervasive in the United States. Young children are aware of it. College students’ academic performance can be affected by it. On the surface, the “Asians are good at math” narrative sounds like a compliment. After all, what’s wrong with saying that someone is good at something? But as I have explained in a journal article, there are two problems. First, the narrative is false. Second, it is racist. And in the midst of an upsurge in violent attacks against people identified as Asian, it’s worth remembering that the core of anti-Asian racism has always been dehumanization. I’m an experienced teacher and researcher of STEM education. Research tells us that racism is a part of students’ classroom experiences in these subjects. If we don’t understand how racism works – even in supposedly “neutral” areas like STEM – we might unintentionally recycle racist ideas. Debunking the myth As with many racial stereotypes, people are genuinely curious whether the “Asians are good at math” narrative could be true. There are videos on YouTube with several million views asking that question. Don’t test scores prove the narrative? In fact, they don’t. On international exams, it’s true that Asian countries are among the top performers in math. But it’s also true that other Asian nations rank 38th, 46th, 59th and 63rd. Interestingly, those top performers also lead in reading – but there isn’t a narrative that “Asians are good at literature.” Domestically, it’s the same story. Research shows considerable variation in mathematical performance among different Asian ethnic groups in the U.S. If all Asian people were innately gifted in math, we shouldn’t see this kind of variation. A better explanation has to do with education policy and federal immigration laws. Countries that invest in teacher education and high-quality curriculum do better on international tests. In the U.S., the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act gave preference to STEM professionals from Asia. That policy affected my own parents, who were able to immigrate to the U.S. under that law, not because South Asian people are naturally good doctors. ‘Mongoloid’ to ‘model minority’ So if it’s not true, why do we say it? Today, Asians are often seen as the “model minority” – hardworking, academically talented and professionally successful – but it wasn’t always that way. In the 18th century, Asian people were classified as “mongoloids,” a racist term based on the pseudoscience of craniometry. Whereas “caucasoids” (white people) were deemed full human beings with superior intellect, all people of color were considered underevolved. From the late 19th century, a new image of Asian people was born: national threat. Chinese immigrants were seen as an economic threat to white American workers, and Japan became a military threat during World War II. Asian people in the U.S. continue to experience racism even today. In fact, the “model minority” idea has always been a way to pit Asian people against supposedly “nonmodel” groups – in other words, non-Asians of color. The implication is: If Asians can do it, why can’t you? An Andrew Yang supporter, wearing a hat bearing the ‘Math’ slogan of his campaign, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, in South Carolina. AP Photo/Meg Kinnard People, not robots Even though the “Asians are good at math” narrative is false, it still has a real impact on people’s lives. Like the “model minority” myth, it falsely positions non-Asians of color as mathematically inferior. It can also be a source of pressure for Asian students. But the real impact of the “Asians are good at math” narrative goes deeper. Take, for example, a scene from an episode of the long-running adult cartoon “Family Guy.” The main character, Peter, is reminiscing about taking a math exam. As the shot pans over other students, each take out a calculator from their pocket. Peter pulls out a boy with Asian features, prods him with a pencil and says: “Do math!” This might seem funny at first, but the underlying message is clear: Asian people aren’t seen as human beings; they are calculating machines. Asians are literally objectified, seen as capable of doing things at a speed and scale that “normal” people can’t do. In other words, they are dehumanized. Calculators are capable of only procedural tasks, not creativity. For Asian people, this implies that while they can succeed in the technical STEM subjects, the humanities and creative arts aren’t for them. Part of what’s going on has to do with how society understands “good at math.” Math is widely considered to be among the hardest subjects to learn. Those that can do it are often seen as “nerds.” Movies about mathematicians like “A Beautiful Mind” and “The Imitation Game” usually portray them as antisocial. Mathematicians might be considered brilliant, but they aren’t seen as “normal.” Usually we think about dehumanization in terms of intellectual deficit. For example, Americans in the 21st century still associate African American people with apes, a racist trope. What’s happening with Asian people is different but still harmful. They become hyperintelligent robots. Resisting the narrative We all can play a role in resisting this false narrative. Teachers can help by monitoring the kinds of learning opportunities they give Asian students. Do they treat them like calculators – only giving them rote procedural tasks – or do Asian students get to show their creativity and to present ideas in front of the class? To help teachers track biases, my research team has developed a free web app called EQUIP. Most people easily recognize overtly racist behavior and language. But I believe we also need to learn how to spot racism in its more subtle forms. The next time you hear someone say “Asians are good at math,” don’t hear it as a joke – hear it as racism. [ Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter. ]This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Niral Shah, University of Washington. Read more:What is a hate crime? The narrow legal definition makes it hard to charge and convictRacism is behind anti-Asian American violence, even when it’s not a hate crimeWhy cash payments aren’t always the best tool to help poor people Niral Shah does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

  • EU has 'absolutely no need' of Sputnik V vaccine, commissioner says

    The European Union does not need Russia's Sputnik V vaccine for COVID-19 and can achieve immunity across the continent using European production, a leading EU executive said on Sunday in comments that provoked a backlash from the vaccine maker. The European Commission has been criticised for a slow vaccine rollout when the bloc faces a rise in cases and as former member Britain's inoculation programme gathers pace. "We have absolutely no need of Sputnik V," Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, who heads the EU executive's vaccine task force, told TF1 television.

  • Be Bold, Be Proud, Speak Up: Raising Asian American Daughters Now

    What the next generation can teach their mothers

  • Biden aims to prevent border crossings from swamping agenda

    The Biden administration is scrambling to manage a growing humanitarian and political challenge at the U.S.-Mexico border that threatens to overshadow its ambitious legislative agenda. With the number of migrants surging, administration officials say Biden inherited an untenable situation that resulted from what they say was President Donald Trump’s undermining and weakening of the immigration system. Biden told reporters Sunday at the White House that “at some point” he would go to the border and that he knows what is going on in the border facilities.

  • Three people killed in multi-car fiery crash in central Fresno

    A 20-year-old man led law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase that ended in tragedy.

  • 13-year-old boy charged in shooting death of 12-year-old sister: Police

    A 13-year-old boy has been charged in the shooting death of his 12-year-old sister inside a Montgomery County home.

  • Philippines says 220 Chinese militia vessels seen in disputed waters this month

    The Philippines expressed concern about hundreds of Chinese military vessels it said were spotted this month in the disputed South China Sea, the latest example of tension in the crucial waterway. The Philippine Coast Guard reported that some 220 vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were seen moored in line formation at a reef on March 7, a cross-government task force said late on Saturday. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea expressed concern about overfishing and destruction of the marine environment, as well as risks to safety of navigation.

  • Fears of police exodus after officers spend year ‘picking up pieces’ of rushed Covid laws

    Exclusive: ‘A minister would say ‘the police will be enforcing that’ and we would be sitting here thinking, really? How are we going to do that then?’ one officer says

  • Philippines tightens coronavirus curbs as cases top 7,000 for third day

    The Philippines will expand tighter COVID-19 rules to include four provinces surrounding the capital Manila, and restrict travel to and from these areas for two weeks beginning on Monday, as the country battles a renewed surge in infections. The restrictions currently in effect in Metropolitan Manila will also be imposed in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, including night curfews and the prohibition of mass gatherings, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Sunday. Only essential travel to and from the capital region and the four provinces, which Roque called the bubble area, will be allowed.

  • Myanmar frees detained BBC journalist as protests continue

    The BBC said Monday that a journalist from its Burmese-language service was released by authorities in Myanmar but gave no details, as protesters in the Southeast Asian nation continued their broad civil disobedience movement against last month’s military coup. The journalist, Aung Thura, was detained on March 19 by men who appeared to be plainclothes security agents while reporting outside a court in the capital of Naypyitaw.

  • Australia floods: Thousands evacuated as downpours worsen

    A severe warning is extended to the whole New South Wales coast, in the worst flooding in decades.

  • AstraZeneca says trial shows vaccine 79% effective; spring breakers prompt Miami Beach state of emergency: Live COVID-19 updates

    AstraZeneca says trial data shows its vaccine is 79% effective. Here are the latest COVID-19 updates.