Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

sir pball

(4,741 posts)
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 08:41 PM Feb 2017

I'm the Subway Sharpie/Purell guy.

Last edited Sat Feb 11, 2017, 02:19 AM - Edit history (3)

I guess if I'm gonna have my anonymity blown, it's in a pretty cool way.

That said, hi, I'm Jared Nied. Pleasure to meet you.

https://nytimes.com/2017/02/05/nyregion/swastika-nyc-subways.html

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/05/us/subway-nazi-graffiti-new-york-trnd/index.html

ETA my statement, hell, my formal press release on this whole thing. Unedited, literally as I typed it onto my Facebook feed..

Hi guys..

Bewildered, confused and pleasantly shocked doesn't even begin to describe this...never in a million years did I think anybody would record my moment, let alone that it would explode like this. I'm honestly not sure what to say other than that I was just doing the right thing, the thing that needed to be done. I'd have been as satisfied with just going home and telling my amazing wife what I did, and maybe a couple of the guys at work. It's just how we should be...my mom raised me to care beyond words, and my dad made me into the man who can put that care into action.

That said, I'm thrilled this has gotten so big because I hope, in some small way, I can teach the world how to be better.
Much love,

–me


New edit..

Thanks whoever got me a star, I'm not sure if I deserve it 😶

More press..

https://www.facebook.com/CTVNewsChannel/videos/1327589800635681/

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-monday-edition-1.3968914/we-just-came-together-new-yorkers-scrub-nazi-graffiti-subway-with-hand-sanitizer-1.3968917
119 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I'm the Subway Sharpie/Purell guy. (Original Post) sir pball Feb 2017 OP
You represent the epitome of the RESIST. mindset. Thank you for your service. Trust Buster Feb 2017 #1
Thanks Jared! Would love to buy you a drink someday... bettyellen Feb 2017 #2
Nice!! LisaM Feb 2017 #3
In a moment of confusion True Dough Feb 2017 #4
Yikes grantcart Feb 2017 #23
Ewwwww---no INTERNET in PRISON!!!!!!!! Good thing, we know what sites THAT GUY MADem Feb 2017 #43
You look at this guys eyes and know somethings not right. Merlot Feb 2017 #50
aaaccckkkkk samnsara Feb 2017 #57
I had that same thought at first. n/t Calista241 Feb 2017 #80
that is funny! lol nt m-lekktor Feb 2017 #99
I salute you, sir! Stinky The Clown Feb 2017 #5
K&R suffragette Feb 2017 #6
Well done, sir! silverweb Feb 2017 #7
Good to meet you! yardwork Feb 2017 #8
Jared, you're famous! For the best possible reason! It's a great thing you did. And now we ALL Squinch Feb 2017 #9
Pleasure to meet you Jared! redwitch Feb 2017 #10
Way to go Jared! Nevermypresident Feb 2017 #11
Welcome to DU 2naSalit Feb 2017 #12
We need more Americans volstork Feb 2017 #13
Bravo malaise Feb 2017 #14
Thank you, Jared gademocrat7 Feb 2017 #15
Rise up! Resist! Ilsa Feb 2017 #16
Well done!!! GliderGuider Feb 2017 #17
Awesome! I clicked on your Facebook. I work at Astor Place. Lucky Luciano Feb 2017 #18
This story is awesome, and you are fantastic! MelissaB Feb 2017 #19
Should have known it was a DUer! rgbecker Feb 2017 #20
Glad to meet you, Jared! Moosepoop Feb 2017 #21
Very good to meet you! Lithos Feb 2017 #22
welcome grantcart Feb 2017 #24
Well done denbot Feb 2017 #25
Nazi fingerprints, propaganda, and vomit removed and eradicated. magicarpet Feb 2017 #26
hi MFM008 Feb 2017 #27
Proud of you snacker Feb 2017 #28
You Happyhippychick Feb 2017 #29
You're part of a beautiful story. liberalmuse Feb 2017 #30
Thank you for standing up GallopingGhost Feb 2017 #31
It's an honor to meet an American who brings honor to our country, particularly when... NNadir Feb 2017 #32
Hi Jared, I'm Cha.. so very nice to meet you. Cha Feb 2017 #33
LOVE this! calimary Jan 2020 #115
Pleastameetcha Warpy Feb 2017 #34
I owe you a fucking drink. What are you doing tomorrow? nt msanthrope Feb 2017 #35
We are honored to have you here fun n serious Feb 2017 #36
Thank you so much! Javaman Feb 2017 #37
I thank you riverbendviewgal Feb 2017 #38
You're a good soul, Jared. Thank you! VOX Feb 2017 #39
Awesome... SidDithers Feb 2017 #40
Good for you, Jared. Warren DeMontague Feb 2017 #41
I echo the sentiments of everyone here. Greywing Feb 2017 #42
Thak you , it's always hard AJT Feb 2017 #44
Thank you eom moda253 Feb 2017 #45
Thank you Good sir! nt MarvinGardens Feb 2017 #46
Thank you. Delphinus Feb 2017 #47
Good on you! K&R demmiblue Feb 2017 #48
Some are born great, some have it thrust upon them - and others take the Purell and make it happen. tenorly Feb 2017 #49
Bravo!! Guilded Lilly Feb 2017 #51
You made my week TxDemChem Feb 2017 #52
Thanks for being part of the reality-based community. blm Feb 2017 #53
That was awesome what you did!! Welcome to DU, Jared. AgadorSparticus Feb 2017 #54
So proud of you! Generic Other Feb 2017 #55
what a goooood boy samnsara Feb 2017 #56
just wondering samnsara Feb 2017 #58
Well, ain't I chuffed.. sir pball Feb 2017 #59
What a wonderful story! Ruby the Liberal Feb 2017 #60
Yay!! Make Decency go Viral! BlancheSplanchnik Feb 2017 #61
Thank you! HipChick Feb 2017 #62
Bravo Zulu! n/t sl8 Feb 2017 #63
Virtual High Five and Hug... Big_K Feb 2017 #64
cool Ellipsis Feb 2017 #65
I am proud to be in the Resistance with you, Jared. SunSeeker Feb 2017 #66
Thank you for being there and doing... blue sky at night Feb 2017 #67
Chelsea Clinton would like to say something to you Maru Kitteh Feb 2017 #68
a great thing you did - KT2000 Feb 2017 #69
Sugoi yuiyoshida Feb 2017 #70
Thank you for what you did. Chellee Feb 2017 #71
Er, thanks for all the welcomes, but I've been here forever.. sir pball Feb 2017 #72
Excellent work, Jared. Tobin S. Feb 2017 #73
So proud to meet you, Jared! Gotta get me some Purell..... Hekate Feb 2017 #74
What an awesome story... Blue_Roses Feb 2017 #75
K&R!!!!!! burrowowl Feb 2017 #76
Thanks sir pball!! blaze Feb 2017 #77
Purell guy DUer since 2005. DU has all the best people! pat_k Feb 2017 #78
Wonderful! Thank you. myrna minx Feb 2017 #79
Thank you!! C_U_L8R Feb 2017 #81
Awesome and Thank You! Raster Feb 2017 #82
Awesome! Skinner Feb 2017 #83
Hi back to you. brer cat Feb 2017 #84
Kick for the day shift...nt SidDithers Feb 2017 #85
Thank you for using your love to conquer hate. logosoco Feb 2017 #86
Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2017 #87
Thank you, Jared! RobertDevereaux Feb 2017 #88
You're not just a Subway Sharpie guy. You're a one-man Public Service! AND a hero. calimary Feb 2017 #89
You are a Patriot and a true American. Thank you! Takket Feb 2017 #90
Well done, sir! WestCoastDem42 Feb 2017 #91
What a great example for all of us to follow. WHEN CRABS ROAR Feb 2017 #92
THANK YOU, Jared and Gregory. niyad Feb 2017 #93
Smart! Will never leave home without moonscape Feb 2017 #94
Thank you so much Jared! redstatebluegirl Feb 2017 #95
Welcome! blueseas Feb 2017 #96
I've shared that story with many friends... lame54 Feb 2017 #97
Quick thinking and Great Job! metroins Feb 2017 #98
And you have a drink coming when you're in the Keys! tavernier Feb 2017 #100
So nice to meet you! Sissyk Feb 2017 #101
Thank you for standing up to hate. GentryDixon Feb 2017 #102
You rock!!!! secondwind Feb 2017 #103
Thank you, sir! AnnieBW Feb 2017 #104
In all this depressing hatred radical noodle Feb 2017 #105
Dude. Starry Messenger Feb 2017 #106
You are AWESOME leftynyc Feb 2017 #107
Many thanks Jared! mdbl Feb 2017 #108
Keeping this kicked. blm Feb 2017 #109
Good news: You made Uncle George's feed catrose Feb 2017 #110
This message was self-deleted by its author sir pball Jan 2020 #116
way to go!!!! samnsara Jan 2020 #111
Erasing toxic hate symbols in a public environment raises everyone's spirits! So thank you! ancianita Jan 2020 #112
THANK YOU! elleng Jan 2020 #113
Thank you for being you murielm99 Jan 2020 #114
Thank You for bing you. Stuart G Jan 2020 #117
Awesome for standing up to Fascism, you set an example and others followed. Sugarcoated Jan 2020 #118
Thanks for the fresh compliments y'all! sir pball Jan 2020 #119
 

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)
2. Thanks Jared! Would love to buy you a drink someday...
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 08:44 PM
Feb 2017

And I guess I'd have to get in line now!
Well done!!

True Dough

(17,304 posts)
4. In a moment of confusion
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 08:45 PM
Feb 2017

I thought you were introducing yourself as Jared, the Subway guy.




That's not an identity you would want to make known!

Kudos on your initiative to remove that disgusting graffiti!

MADem

(135,425 posts)
43. Ewwwww---no INTERNET in PRISON!!!!!!!! Good thing, we know what sites THAT GUY
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 09:52 PM
Feb 2017

would be looking at....

This PURELL Jared is a GOOD GUY....he's restoring the name with his works!

silverweb

(16,402 posts)
7. Well done, sir!
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 08:52 PM
Feb 2017

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Hopefully, you've inspired many, many others to also act instead of just observe in despair.



Squinch

(50,949 posts)
9. Jared, you're famous! For the best possible reason! It's a great thing you did. And now we ALL
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 08:55 PM
Feb 2017

know what to do if we see that.

2naSalit

(86,580 posts)
12. Welcome to DU
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 09:02 PM
Feb 2017

and I'm glad to see your thoughtfulness got so much attention, it was the right thing to do.

magicarpet

(14,145 posts)
26. Nazi fingerprints, propaganda, and vomit removed and eradicated.
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 09:31 PM
Feb 2017

Bless you - for the Nazi cleanup.

P. J. Goebbels was asking if anyone had your phone number or contact info.

Hearty welcome to DU.

liberalmuse

(18,672 posts)
30. You're part of a beautiful story.
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 09:34 PM
Feb 2017

Thank you for that! You are my hero! You spoke up, and acted. You've helped lift spirits and given hope to humanity in these sad times.

NNadir

(33,516 posts)
32. It's an honor to meet an American who brings honor to our country, particularly when...
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 09:35 PM
Feb 2017

...so much is being done to dishonor it in the White House.

Cha

(297,196 posts)
33. Hi Jared, I'm Cha.. so very nice to meet you.
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 09:36 PM
Feb 2017
Subway Riders Scrub Anti-Semitic Graffiti, as ‘Decent Human Beings’

snip//

“There was a lady sitting across from me under the map, and she said, ‘Oh that’s absolutely horrible,’” he said. “‘Do you think there’s any way we can erase it?’”

Mr. Nied had many times used a Sharpie when he had meant to use a dry-erase marker, and he knew from experience that alcohol would work to erase the graffiti.

“A light bulb went on, and I just asked, ‘Does anyone have hand sanitizer?’” he said.

Mr. Nied and several other commuters began to wipe away the graffiti, their actions captured in photographs taken by Mr. Locke, who wrote on Facebook about his experience. By late Sunday afternoon, more than 518,000 people had reacted to the post on Facebook, and the post had been shared more than 354,000 times.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/05/nyregion/swastika-nyc-subways.html?_r=0

Thank you so much! To your experience with hand sanitizer! It was a Flash Mob of Humanity.

calimary

(81,238 posts)
115. LOVE this!
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 02:44 PM
Jan 2020

Savoring that article. It’s a wonderful read. About an equally wonderful moment.

Kinda restores one’s faith.

Warpy

(111,255 posts)
34. Pleastameetcha
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 09:37 PM
Feb 2017

I'm not a chef, I'm a cook. And I didn't know about hand sanitizer and Sharpie. I thought Sharpie graffiti would join cockroaches and Twinkies as the only intact survivors of WWIII. Oh, and polyester. Nothing kills it.

riverbendviewgal

(4,252 posts)
38. I thank you
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 09:42 PM
Feb 2017

For showing the world that there are Americans who can fight hate with common sense and love together.

AJT

(5,240 posts)
44. Thak you , it's always hard
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 09:53 PM
Feb 2017

to be one who stands up and does the right thing when everyone else is just sitting there.

tenorly

(2,037 posts)
49. Some are born great, some have it thrust upon them - and others take the Purell and make it happen.
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 10:30 PM
Feb 2017

Thank you for being you, Jared.

AgadorSparticus

(7,963 posts)
54. That was awesome what you did!! Welcome to DU, Jared.
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 11:12 PM
Feb 2017

We ALL need to stand up, speak up, and be present for everyone now. Thank you for that.

Generic Other

(28,979 posts)
55. So proud of you!
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 11:13 PM
Feb 2017

When good people stand up and present a united front, the bad ones can only scurry away in shame.

samnsara

(17,622 posts)
56. what a goooood boy
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 11:16 PM
Feb 2017

........as I say to my beloved Golden Retriever...meaning this is the ultimate compliment! Thank you so much!!!!!

samnsara

(17,622 posts)
58. just wondering
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 11:18 PM
Feb 2017

how did you know this? you must have little kids!...or you are a graffiti artist? either way...we love you!

sir pball

(4,741 posts)
59. Well, ain't I chuffed..
Sun Feb 5, 2017, 11:33 PM
Feb 2017

Glad to meet all of you...though the "welcome to DU" posts are a bit late, I've been here forever..

Still. Drinks are always welcome!



Ellipsis

(9,124 posts)
65. cool
Mon Feb 6, 2017, 12:23 AM
Feb 2017

Hi Jared. I'm Mark

You get to madison... We'll introduce to the the scene.


Lots of good food photogs and color science round here...


Enjoy your time in the limelight..

Best.

blue sky at night

(3,242 posts)
67. Thank you for being there and doing...
Mon Feb 6, 2017, 12:32 AM
Feb 2017

the right thing, proud of you and that you are a DU member.

Here was my post from earlier today...hope you saw it!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028599290

KT2000

(20,577 posts)
69. a great thing you did -
Mon Feb 6, 2017, 12:40 AM
Feb 2017

we ARE better than that and you proved it. Good to know what can remove a sharpie too.

Chellee

(2,096 posts)
71. Thank you for what you did.
Mon Feb 6, 2017, 01:05 AM
Feb 2017

This story gave me so much hope. And that is something that has lately been in short supply. So thank you.

sir pball

(4,741 posts)
72. Er, thanks for all the welcomes, but I've been here forever..
Mon Feb 6, 2017, 01:27 AM
Feb 2017

Member since: Fri Feb 18, 2005, 09:25 AM

I mean, I keep quite to myself, but come ON guys!

Blue_Roses

(12,894 posts)
75. What an awesome story...
Mon Feb 6, 2017, 03:47 AM
Feb 2017

Nice to "meet" you, Jared. You and the others did an awesome thing. And I love Chelsea Clinton's tweet! Yes, love wins everytime and yes, another good reason to carry hand sanitizer! I never leave home without it!

Way to go!!!!

Response to sir pball (Original post)

RobertDevereaux

(1,857 posts)
88. Thank you, Jared!
Mon Feb 6, 2017, 12:16 PM
Feb 2017

That's the way to resist.

At every opportunity that feels right to do so, speak up, ALL of us!

calimary

(81,238 posts)
89. You're not just a Subway Sharpie guy. You're a one-man Public Service! AND a hero.
Mon Feb 6, 2017, 01:48 PM
Feb 2017

MUCH needed at this time, too.

You're a breath of fresh air. And a symbol of hope.

WestCoastDem42

(64 posts)
91. Well done, sir!
Mon Feb 6, 2017, 02:03 PM
Feb 2017

Your actions stand as an example for us all. I could only hope that I would have the ability to recognize and react as you did.

AnnieBW

(10,425 posts)
104. Thank you, sir!
Tue Feb 7, 2017, 12:15 AM
Feb 2017

Thank you for your quick thinking, sir! Who knew that hand sanitizer got out Sharpie ink?

I raise a glass to you, sir!

radical noodle

(8,000 posts)
105. In all this depressing hatred
Tue Feb 7, 2017, 02:50 AM
Feb 2017

those little things mean so much. It makes everyone feel better to know there are people like you and the others who would take the time to be so considerate and loving.

 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
107. You are AWESOME
Tue Feb 7, 2017, 07:06 AM
Feb 2017

So many reasons to love our city. YOU making it better just by virtue of living here.

Response to catrose (Reply #110)

ancianita

(36,053 posts)
112. Erasing toxic hate symbols in a public environment raises everyone's spirits! So thank you!
Wed Jan 1, 2020, 12:42 PM
Jan 2020

Like the small marks of sentences that clarify meaning, your seemingly small but weighty act cleared the air and raised spirits near and far.

Glad to meet you.

Sugarcoated

(7,722 posts)
118. Awesome for standing up to Fascism, you set an example and others followed.
Thu Jan 2, 2020, 03:16 PM
Jan 2020

Question: What day did this occur?

sir pball

(4,741 posts)
119. Thanks for the fresh compliments y'all!
Sun Jan 5, 2020, 01:09 AM
Jan 2020

I saw (well, got told) this popped up again after the new year...

Thank you all again, really, from the bottom of my heart - but please don't make me go through the fifteen minutes of fame again!

Honestly, it's really inconvenient to have to duck out of a busy brunch service to field a call from the NYT or a news interview, even if everyone else at work is super supportive and all.for it

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»I'm the Subway Sharpie/Pu...