A tweet by a Democratic strategist went viral after she claimed she had “safely ridden” the New York City subway for 23 years and that critics were complaining about “imaginary monsters.”
Elizabeth Spiers’ tweet was a response to National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin’s criticism in the aftermath of a Black man’s death who was put into a chokehold by a former U.S. Marine.
“Hi – New Yorker here. I’ve safely ridden the subway for 23 years and my child has never been menaced by a half-naked lunatic, but these imaginary monsters in your head are addressable with therapy,” Spiers tweeted.
Hi – New Yorker here. I’ve safely ridden the subway for 23 years and my child has never been menaced by a half naked lunatic, but these imaginary monsters in your head are addressable with therapy. https://t.co/njddI11QDm
— Elizabeth Spiers (@espiers) May 8, 2023
Spiers’ tweet received over 1,000 likes and views, but some criticized her for undermining the threat New York City residents face on the subway system.
“I worked in Manhattan from 1996-2020. While the city was safer for many of those years than it is today if you’ve never encountered an alarming lunatic on the subway or its platforms, I question what city you’ve been traveling in,” MacLaughlin responded.
I worked in Manhattan from 1996-2020. While the city was safer for many of those years than it is today, if you've never encountered an alarming lunatic on the subway or its platforms, I question what city you've been traveling in. https://t.co/alv7nBtqH2
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) May 8, 2023
Several Twitter users mocked Spiers for arguing in favor of New York’s subway system based on unreliable evidence.
“I know someone from Chicago who’s never been shot. It follows that gun violence in that city is imaginary,” Seth Dillon of the Babylon Bee replied.
I know someone from Chicago who’s never been shot. It follows that gun violence in that city is imaginary. https://t.co/R6EbW6J5GE
— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) May 8, 2023
“This is not true. It used to be. If I thought my 13-year-old son could safely and routinely take the subway I’d still live in NYC. It’s almost that simple,” columnist David Marcus responded.
This is not true. It used to be. If I thought my 13 year old son could safely and routinely take the subway I’d still live in NYC. It’s almost that simple. https://t.co/f7PPN5n17s
— David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) May 8, 2023
“My daughter used to be a New Yorker too but her experience was different. She felt unsafe when she rode the subway. So much so that she moved to a different city when her job went remote. Thanks for invalidating her experience because apparently, only yours matters,” another user said.
My daughter used to be a New Yorker too but her experience was different. She felt unsafe when she rode the subway. So much so that she moved to a different city when her job went remote. Thanks for invalidating her experience because apparently only yours matters.
— Smokey Harrison (@HarrisonSmokey) May 8, 2023
Many left-leaning individuals have claimed that Jordan Neely was killed because he was a Black man, but others have defended the actions of the 24-year-old ex-Marine by noting that Neely was arrested 42 times and was threatening passengers.
Spiers founded Gawker before it went downhill and worked as the editor of the New York Observer, while Jared Kushner owned the website.
