Curtis Sliwa
Encyclopedia
Curtis Sliwa is an American anti-crime activist, founder and CEO of the Guardian Angels
, and radio talk show host and media personality.
. At the time, the city was experiencing a crime wave. The Magnificent 13 grew and was renamed the Guardian Angels
. The group's actions drew strong reactions, both positive and negative, from the police, public officials, residents and the media. Throughout the early 1980s the group's distinctive uniform, a military
type red beret
and white insignia t-shirt, became recognizable as the group grew and courted media attention.
In the early 1980s, he became active in Buffalo, New York
and was often critical of local police policies and practices. Sliwa continues to act as the President of the organization and oversees its worldwide operations. His wife, Mary, is Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. He frequently visits chapters throughout the world and graduates new chapters. As of 2011, Sliwa states that the Guardian Angels operate in nine countries and 82 cities around the world, with approximately 5,000 members. Sliwa went on to become a populist
, conservative radio talk show host
.
and a gunman hiding in the front passenger seat jumped up and fired several shots, hitting him in the groin and legs. The kidnapping was apparently foiled when Sliwa leapt from the front window of the moving cab and escaped. Sliwa underwent surgery for internal injuries and leg wounds.
Federal prosecutors eventually charged John A. Gotti, the son of Gambino crime family
leader John Gotti
, with the attempted murder, among a raft of other charges. Prosecutors claimed that Gotti was angered by remarks Sliwa had made about his father on his radio program. However, after three attempts to try him, the last on September 20, 2005, three separate juries were unable to agree to convict Gotti on all of the charges brought against him and the charges were dropped. Jurors later told reporters they did believe he had a role in Sliwa's shooting. Prosecutors declined to re-try Gotti and dismissed the charges against him. Sliwa has said he would seek damages in civil court. Michael Yannotti, a Gotti associate, was also charged with shooting Sliwa in the incident but was acquitted. Yannotti, however, was sentenced to 20 years on an unrelated racketeering charge.
, where he began his career in 1990. In 1994, the then city-owned and operated WNYC
hired Sliwa, who had been released by WABC. Some, including Sliwa, have suggested that he was forced on the station by newly-elected mayor Rudy Giuliani
, whom he had supported in the mayoral race. Sliwa stayed four months in the position before moving back to commercial radio.
He was back at WABC in 1996, and in 2000 he became the co-host, with attorney Ron Kuby
, of the long-running Curtis and Kuby in the Morning. The show lasted eight years before Citadel Broadcasting
replaced the team with Don Imus
. The station retained Sliwa until November 2009, when his show was cancelled after a contract dispute. He has since moved to a morning show on WNYM radio.
, Italian
, and Assyrian descent in Canarsie, Brooklyn
. He was raised a member of the Assyrian Church of the East
.
Sliwa attended but was expelled from Brooklyn Prep, a Jesuit high school, and graduated from Canarsie High School
, a New York City public high school. Prior to founding the Guardian Angels, he was night manager of a McDonald's
restaurant on Fordham Road
in The Bronx
.
His second wife, Lisa Evers
, who co-hosted a WABC radio show called "Angels in the Morning", is now a television reporter and radio personality. Lisa, a professional martial arts expert was a member of the Worldwide Wrestling Federation. In 2004 Sliwa married his third wife, Mary Galda, a former WABC employee; they have a son, Anthony Chester Sliwa.
in 2010.
Guardian Angels
The Guardian Angels is a non-profit international volunteer organization of unarmed citizen crime patrollers. The Guardian Angels organization was founded February 13, 1979 in New York City by Curtis Sliwa and has chapters in 15 countries and 144 cities around the world.Sliwa originally created the...
, and radio talk show host and media personality.
Guardian Angels
In May 1977, Sliwa created the "Magnificent 13", a group dedicated to combating violence and crime on the New York City subwaysNew York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
. At the time, the city was experiencing a crime wave. The Magnificent 13 grew and was renamed the Guardian Angels
Guardian Angels
The Guardian Angels is a non-profit international volunteer organization of unarmed citizen crime patrollers. The Guardian Angels organization was founded February 13, 1979 in New York City by Curtis Sliwa and has chapters in 15 countries and 144 cities around the world.Sliwa originally created the...
. The group's actions drew strong reactions, both positive and negative, from the police, public officials, residents and the media. Throughout the early 1980s the group's distinctive uniform, a military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
type red beret
Red beret
The red beret is a military beret worn by many military police, paramilitary, commando and police forces around the world. The maroon beret has become a symbol of airborne forces, though this is often known as a "red beret", particularly when referring to the British Parachute...
and white insignia t-shirt, became recognizable as the group grew and courted media attention.
In the early 1980s, he became active in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and was often critical of local police policies and practices. Sliwa continues to act as the President of the organization and oversees its worldwide operations. His wife, Mary, is Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. He frequently visits chapters throughout the world and graduates new chapters. As of 2011, Sliwa states that the Guardian Angels operate in nine countries and 82 cities around the world, with approximately 5,000 members. Sliwa went on to become a populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
, conservative radio talk show host
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
.
Controversy
Sliwa admitted that he had fabricated several of the Angels' exploits, including a false allegation that he had been kidnapped in 1980 by off-duty transit officers. As well as admitting to "faking several kidnapping attempts on himself to make himself seem more valuable to the public" he said in later statements.Murder attempt on Sliwa
On June 19, 1992, Sliwa was kidnapped and shot by two gunmen after entering a stolen taxi in Manhattan. The taxi picked up Sliwa near his home in the East VillageEast Village, Manhattan
The East Village is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, lying east of Greenwich Village, south of Gramercy and Stuyvesant Town, and north of the Lower East Side...
and a gunman hiding in the front passenger seat jumped up and fired several shots, hitting him in the groin and legs. The kidnapping was apparently foiled when Sliwa leapt from the front window of the moving cab and escaped. Sliwa underwent surgery for internal injuries and leg wounds.
Federal prosecutors eventually charged John A. Gotti, the son of Gambino crime family
Gambino crime family
The Gambino crime family is one of the "Five Families" that dominates organized crime activities in New York City, United States, within the nationwide criminal phenomenon known as the Mafia . The group is named after Carlo Gambino, boss of the family at the time of the McClellan hearings in 1963...
leader John Gotti
John Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
, with the attempted murder, among a raft of other charges. Prosecutors claimed that Gotti was angered by remarks Sliwa had made about his father on his radio program. However, after three attempts to try him, the last on September 20, 2005, three separate juries were unable to agree to convict Gotti on all of the charges brought against him and the charges were dropped. Jurors later told reporters they did believe he had a role in Sliwa's shooting. Prosecutors declined to re-try Gotti and dismissed the charges against him. Sliwa has said he would seek damages in civil court. Michael Yannotti, a Gotti associate, was also charged with shooting Sliwa in the incident but was acquitted. Yannotti, however, was sentenced to 20 years on an unrelated racketeering charge.
Career in radio
Sliwa has been a radio broadcaster for more than two decades, most of that time on WABCWABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
, where he began his career in 1990. In 1994, the then city-owned and operated WNYC
WNYC
WNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
hired Sliwa, who had been released by WABC. Some, including Sliwa, have suggested that he was forced on the station by newly-elected mayor Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani
Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani KBE is an American lawyer, businessman, and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
, whom he had supported in the mayoral race. Sliwa stayed four months in the position before moving back to commercial radio.
He was back at WABC in 1996, and in 2000 he became the co-host, with attorney Ron Kuby
Ron Kuby
Ronald L. Kuby is a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer, radio talk show host and TV commentator. He has hosted radio programs on WABC Radio in New York and Air America Radio.-Beginnings:...
, of the long-running Curtis and Kuby in the Morning. The show lasted eight years before Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting
Citadel Broadcasting Corporation was a Las Vegas, Nevada-based broadcast holding company. Citadel owned 243 radio stations across the United States and was the third-largest radio station owner in the country...
replaced the team with Don Imus
Don Imus
John Donald "Don" Imus, Jr. is an American radio host, humorist, philanthropist and writer. His nationally-syndicated talk show, Imus in the Morning, is broadcast throughout the United States by Citadel Media and relayed on television by the Fox Business Network.-Personal life:Imus was born in...
. The station retained Sliwa until November 2009, when his show was cancelled after a contract dispute. He has since moved to a morning show on WNYM radio.
Personal life
Sliwa was born into a Catholic family of PolishPolish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
, Italian
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
, and Assyrian descent in Canarsie, Brooklyn
Canarsie, Brooklyn
Canarsie is a neighborhood in the southeastern portion of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City, United States. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 18....
. He was raised a member of the Assyrian Church of the East
Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ʻIttā Qaddishtā w-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi d-Madnĕkhā d-Āturāyē), is a Syriac Church historically centered in Mesopotamia. It is one of the churches that claim continuity with the historical...
.
Sliwa attended but was expelled from Brooklyn Prep, a Jesuit high school, and graduated from Canarsie High School
Canarsie High School
Canarsie High School is a public high school in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Canarsie in New York City.-Student demographics:84.51% Black or African American, 11.47% Hispanic or Latino, 2.07% White non-Hispanic, 1.66% Asian and 0.28% Native American. The student/teacher ratio is 22.0. The school is...
, a New York City public high school. Prior to founding the Guardian Angels, he was night manager of a McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurant on Fordham Road
Fordham Road
Fordham Road is a major street in The Bronx borough of New York City. It runs east-west from the Harlem River to Bronx Park.This street runs through the neighborhood of University Heights, divides Fordham from Fordham-Bedford and finally runs along the northern border of Belmont...
in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
.
His second wife, Lisa Evers
Lisa Evers
Lisa Evers is an American general assignment reporter for FOX 5 News in New York City. She covers a wide variety of stories, but specializes in crime and counter-terrorism, breaking news and exclusives.-Journalism:...
, who co-hosted a WABC radio show called "Angels in the Morning", is now a television reporter and radio personality. Lisa, a professional martial arts expert was a member of the Worldwide Wrestling Federation. In 2004 Sliwa married his third wife, Mary Galda, a former WABC employee; they have a son, Anthony Chester Sliwa.
Prostate cancer
On April 20, 2011, Sliwa announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancerProstate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in 2010.