Curtis Sliwa - Career, Assassination attempt on Sliwa, Current media presence, Family, Trivia

Social activist, born in New York City, New York, USA. He was a rebellious student in parochial school. While working at a McDonald's restaurant, he organized the Rock Brigade, which evolved into the Magnificent Thirteen and then the Guardian Angels (1979). Originally the Guardian Angels simply wanted to protect subway riders in New York City, but the organization spread to many other cities (eventually to foreign countries) and broadened its goals to protecting people in various public areas. Some regarded the Angels as potentially dangerous vigilantes, but gradually the group came to be accepted by city governments and the public at large. He married Lisa Evers (1981), a karate black belt, who served as his close associate in his expanding organization. There were several attempts on Sliwa's life during the 1980s.

Curtis Sliwa (born March 26, 1954 in Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York) founded the Guardian Angels in 1979, a volunteer anti-crime organization with which he has remained closely identified.

Career

Sliwa originally created the organization to combat widespread violence and crime on the New York City subways. Sliwa later admitted that, in order to attract favorable media attention the Guardian Angels, he had fabricated a series of criminal incidents "that clearly had not taken place" in the late 1970's and early 1980s.

In the early 1980's, he was also active in Buffalo, New York and was often critical of local police policies and practices.

Sliwa later became a populist conservative radio talk show host, although his political views are less noticeable than his "gift of gab" rapid-fire speaking style. In the early 1990's, Sliwa was co-host with his then-wife Lisa Evers on WABC-AM in New York City.

Assassination attempt on Sliwa

On June 19, 1992 Sliwa was ambushed by two gunmen after getting in the back of a taxi in New York City. "Junior" Gotti, son of the late crime boss John Gotti, and two members of the Gambino crime family were charged with conspiring to murder Sliwa in retaliation for comments about the elder Gotti that Sliwa made during his radio program.

Current media presence

After his attempted murder, his WABC program was cancelled. Through his friendship with Mayor Rudy Giuliani Sliwa landed a radio program on the then city-owned and operated WNYC.

Sliwa is now the co-host, with Ron Kuby, of the "Curtis and Kuby in the Morning" program aired weekdays from 5 A.M. Sliwa and Kuby also co-hosted a television version of "Curtis &

Family

In 2004 Sliwa married for a third time and became a father.

Trivia

Sliwa is known for his connection to the New York City local community and frequently participates in local events.