Black Lives Matter (BLM) leader Hawk Newsome is calling for “black vigilantes” to retaliate after former Marine Daniel Penny was acquitted in the death of Jordan Neely. Penny, 26, was found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide by a Manhattan jury following a 2023 subway incident where he restrained Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man, to protect passengers from Neely’s threatening behavior.
Newsome urged black communities to mobilize in cities across the nation, claiming white individuals want to “choke” and “kill” black people for “being loud.” “Like everybody else has vigilantes, we need some black vigilantes,” Newsome said. “People want to jump up and choke us and kill us for being loud, how about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us?”
The incident occurred in May 2023 when Neely began acting erratically on a New York City subway, shouting at commuters and declaring he didn’t care about going to jail. Penny, along with other passengers, restrained Neely, holding him in a chokehold until Neely lost consciousness and later died.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg charged Penny after a medical examiner ruled Neely’s death a homicide. The manslaughter charge, which was dismissed, carried a potential 15-year sentence, while the negligent homicide charge carried a maximum of four years.
Former federal prosecutor Andy McCarthy suggested on Fox News that jurors may have been influenced by Bragg’s “racialized” narrative. Meanwhile, protesters outside the courtroom chanted “no justice, no peace” in response to the verdict.
BLM’s leadership has faced controversy in recent years. Co-founder Patrisse Cullors has described herself as a “trained Marxist” and was accused of misusing funds, including purchasing a $6 million home with donations. Activists have alleged financial mismanagement within the organization, with lawsuits claiming millions were funneled for personal use.
The acquittal of Penny has reignited tensions surrounding racial narratives and self-defense in public safety incidents.
