Saving a life
On any given day we hear relentless attacks on union workers, both public and private, and on those less fortunate. Based on legislation we are seeing passed across the country we know that the reason for the economic collapse was union workers, especially those that worked in the public sector, and the poor.
These greedy parasites have destroyed the American economy and the American way of life. As a matter of fact, all they care about is themselves. Doing everything they can do to hold onto that pension, healthcare, and living wage, how dare they be so selfish!
That is what those on the right would have you believe. In reality, the truth is far, far different:
The City of Madison employee knew she must hang on, if she was to save the despondent woman's life. But she was also fearful: for if the woman did jump, she was likely to go with her. If that happened both would tumble an estimated 70 feet onto a concrete bike path below.
James saw the woman on the rail, trying to jump. He could also see the other woman, right behind the first, desperately hanging on; hanging on with all the strength she could muster. James, age 46, could hear screaming: "Let me go! Let me go!"
He ran to both and helped grab onto the first, as she continued to shout: "I have nothing to live for! I'm not worth it! Working in concert, James and the city employee pulled the woman to the ground.
To fully understand why these two heroes worked together to save this woman’s life you have to go back to just prior to this incident. When the woman who was so despondent that she was willing to throw herself off the rooftop patio of the Monona Terrace to the concrete bike path below
had come to the City of Madison’s Community Development Office.
The visitor was upset about her family possibly being evicted. The concerned employee sensed something was very wrong. The woman kept saying, "I'll leave, I'll just go away." The city worker followed her out of the Madison Municipal building, and trailed behind as the woman walked up a Monona Terrace rooftop ramp. The city employee had a gut feeling things were about to get much worse, and she was right. The woman moved to a rail, clutched it with her hands, put a foot up, and was about to jump.
I do not know why the woman thought she would be evicted; however, I do know that she was desperate and felt like she had no other options left. If not for the kindness of two people that are reviled by the right she would most certainly be dead.
Note: If you have not read the entire police report, please take a moment to do so. The Madison Police Department has a gifted writer as their Public Information Officer, Joel DeSpain—his writing on incident reports over the years have made me laugh and, like this one, have made me cry. The City of Madison is lucky to have him.
MPD Added video after I wrote the diary: