In 2015, Jordan Neely kidnapped a 7 year old girl. In 2019, Jordan Neely punched a 64 year old man in the face. In 2021, Jordan Neely slugged a 67 year old woman in the face as she exited the subway, breaking her nose and fracturing her orbital bone. Neely was arrested 44 times, but never faced real justice for terrorizing New Yorkers.
After a trial that drew national attention, the jury acquitted Daniel Penny of criminally negligent homicide, though they had previously deadlocked on the more severe charge of second-degree manslaughter. This decision came after extensive deliberation, highlighting the complexity of the case, which wasn't just about the act of the chokehold but about the context, intent, and the immediate danger perceived by Penny and other passengers.
On May 1, 2023, Jordan Neely, a homeless man known for his Michael Jackson impersonations but also for his struggles with mental illness and drug issues, entered an F train in Manhattan, reportedly shouting about his desperation and making threats that someone was going to die. Daniel Penny, a former Marine and architecture student, responded to Neely's alarming behavior by placing him in a chokehold, an action that would ultimately lead to Neely's death.
Jordan Neely boarded a subway car, and his behavior quickly escalated from being merely disruptive to threatening. Witnesses described Neely throwing his jacket down, yelling about his hunger and thirst, and expressing readiness to go to jail or even die. This behavior created an environment of fear among passengers, many of whom were trapped with no immediate escape route. Penny, seeing Neely's actions, decided to intervene by using a chokehold, a technique he learned during his Marine service.
The medical examiner concluded that Neely died from compression of the neck, but the defense argued that Neely's death was influenced by multiple factors including his schizophrenia, use of synthetic marijuana, and a pre-existing blood condition, suggesting the chokehold alone was not solely responsible.
While the death of Jordan Neely is a tragedy, when someone enters a confined space threatening harm, the logical and immediate response should be to neutralize that threat, even if it means putting oneself at risk. Daniel Penny acted under these circumstances, and the legal system has recognized this through the jury's verdict. It's a moment for society to reflect not just on individual actions but on broader issues like mental health support, public safety, and the right to defend oneself and others in dire circumstances.
Following the acquittal of Daniel Penny on charges of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Jordan Neely, Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists, particularly from the New York chapter, have vocally protested the verdict, viewing it as a miscarriage of justice.
BLM leaders have described the outcome as a victory for white supremacy, with Hawk Newsome, co-founder of New York's BLM, suggesting that "racism is still alive and kicking in America." Protests outside the courthouse where the trial took place were marked by chants of "Justice for Jordan Neely" and slogans indicating a belief in systemic bias within the judicial process.
The movement's response has included calls for "black vigilantes" as a form of community self-defense.
Instead of protesting a specific verdict, some might argue for directing efforts towards broader societal improvements, like better mental health support, addressing homelessness, or reforming how public safety is managed in public transit systems.
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