IHOP Security Guard Charged: One Less 'Disturbance' for the System
The Independent breathlessly covers the incident where an IHOP security guard is charged with murder after killing a homeless man who was allegedly 'causing a disturbance.' (The Independent, 'IHOP security guard faces murder charge...', Oct 14, 2025). One might almost forget that 'causing a disturbance' is often the only available avenue for those society has already discarded, trying to survive
in spaces not built for them. This isn't just about an individual security guard; it's about a system that criminalizes poverty and homelessness. Instead of addressing the root causes—like declining social services, stagnant wages, and skyrocketing housing costs—we arm private security and call the police. The 'disturbance' in question isn't always the person; often, it's the uncomfortable truth
they represent in our meticulously curated capitalist landscapes.