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A viral surveillance clip captured the moment an NYU student was struck from behind and thrown to the pavement while walking to class in Greenwich Village, a chilling reminder that New York’s streets are no longer safe for ordinary citizens. The footage, shared by the student herself, shows bystanders rushing to help as the suspect flees down Waverly Place, and law enforcement moved quickly after the video spread online.
The victim, 20-year-old NYU student Amelia Lewis, described the attack in raw, emotional posts on social media, saying she felt a slap and then was yanked to the ground by her hair — an ordeal she called the scariest experience of her life. She made clear she was simply walking to a 9:30 a.m. class when the unprovoked assault happened, and her account has become a rallying cry for students and parents who are fed up with daily danger in Democrat-run cities.
Police arrested 45-year-old James Rizzo and charged him with persistent sexual abuse, forcible touching and assault after the footage was turned over to NYU’s campus safety and the NYPD, according to reports. Authorities say the arrest came after investigators matched the surveillance video and located the suspect in the Greenwich Village precinct; officials confirmed multiple charges tied to the brazen daytime attack.
What makes this case even more infuriating is Rizzo’s record: law enforcement sources report he has been arrested at least 16 times for offenses ranging from forcible touching and sexual abuse to burglary, and he had been released from state custody in recent months. New Yorkers are right to be outraged that a man with a long rap sheet was apparently walking the streets and allegedly targeted a young woman heading to class.
NYU issued a statement saying the university is cooperating with police and offering support to the student, which is the minimum any responsible institution should do after a violent crime on or near campus. But statements and thoughts-and-prayers aren’t enough — students deserve to walk to class without fearing an unprovoked attack, and parents deserve accountability from city leaders who have traded public safety for political softness.
This episode should be a wake-up call for voters and officials: when repeat offenders are released early or paroled without proper supervision, communities pay the price. It’s time to demand strict enforcement, real consequences, and a return to law-and-order policies that protect young women and hardworking Americans instead of coddling career criminals.
