Daniel Penny Acquitted in Subway Incident Involving Jordan Neely's Death, Sparks Race and Justice Debate

Dec 15, 2024, 05:04 PM

Daniel Penny, a retired Marine and architecture student, has been acquitted of charges related to the death of Jordan Neely on a New York subway. Penny, who is white, subdued Neely, a black man with a history of mental illness and over 40 arrests, after Neely threatened passengers. The incident, which involved Penny applying a chokehold with the help of two other passengers, one named Eric Gonzalez, resulted in Neely's death. Despite Penny's acquittal, the case has sparked controversy, with some activists and the head of the New York chapter of Black Lives Matter claiming the outcome represents a victory for white supremacy. The Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who is black, initially charged Penny following public outcry. However, a jury, which included four people of color, found Penny not guilty, leading to discussions on race, self-defense, and the treatment of mentally ill individuals in public spaces. Penny has no regrets about his actions, stating he would take a million court appearances to protect others from harm.