A disturbing and violent phenomenon has been catching notoriety
around the country. Known as the
“knockout game”, the trend has found innocent victims being assaulted and
traumatized. But how sure are authorities that these acts are part of a sick
game or just random attacks?
The “game” involves one or more assailants attempting to knock
out an unsuspecting bystander, usually with a single punch to the head. One of
the more disturbing aspects of the game is that the attacker has no personal
motive; it is committed for the amusement of the aggressors.
With the rise of easy-to-share videos going viral, so have
games involving the dispeleasurement of victims, such as the “smack cam” trend
that has gained popularity on the social video sharing mobile app Vine.
It is widely believed that many of the attacks could be race
related. There have been several attacks on Jewish victims in Brooklyn in 2013.
On November 24th, a man from Brooklyn, N.Y., was accused of
committing a hate crime. Amrit Marajh, 28, was charged with harassment as a
hate crime after he purportedly sucker punched a 24 year-old Orthodox Jewish
man.
Public figures have been attempting to combat the growing
panic the game has created around the country. Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons
and Rev. Al Sharpton both publicly condemned the knockout game and the
targeting of people of Jewish descent. Republican New York State assemblyman
Jim Tedisco drafted a bill titled Knockout Assault Deterrent Act, which would
charge any perpetrators with a gang assault and a sentence up to 25 years.
At the same time, many media outlets have labeled the game
as a myth and panic starter.
“We’re trying to determine whether or not this is a real
phenomenon,” said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly to the New York Times.
“I mean, yes, something like this can happen. But we would like to have people
come forward and give us any information they have.” Even one of the more
widely known victims, Pittsburgh teacher James Addlesurger, seen being
assaulted in an alley by a teenager in an online video, has denied that his attack
was part of the game.
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