Thugs Attack Chicago Journalist

My friend and colleague Bob Koehler writes in his column this week about being roughed up by a pack of punks who jumped him near his North Side home. 

After the young scum ran off and left him collapsed on the ground, Bob flagged down a police car and the cops drove him around the neighborhood in a fruitless perp search. Bob, who's one of the most gentle, peace-loving guys I've ever met, told the cops, “I work with restorative justice. I want these kids to have a chance, to not get sucked up in the system.”

Surely he's a better man than I, because I'd want these punks off the street right now and out of society for a long, long time. I'd also be asking myself what would have happened if instead of a middle-aged man to pick on, these vermin had chanced upon an 18-year-old woman.

And I'd absolutely know this wasn't the first time these punks had attacked somebody.

Maybe Bob's way is the right way and will ultimately lead society into an understanding of how to surgically remove the cancer of violence.

Until then, however, I'm with Sheriff Buford Pusser: Get the stick.

Comments

[MrBrownThumb]

His reaction sounds very similar to the reaction the writer who got gooned by Garfield Park had. I forget what publication it was in, maybe Chicago Mag? You probably saw it because the link was all over Twitter when it was published.

Anyway, add me to the crowd of people who would want to see any attackers brought to justice.

Hope your friend gets better soon.

[Leigh Hanlon]

I don't think Bob was seriously hurt. And he would definitely want these guys brought to justice. I'm not familiar enough with the "restorative justice" concept to know exactly how that would work if the perps were caught and obliged to face and accept that sort of judgment.