Hawk Newsome, leader of Black Lives Matter Greater New York, has sparked controversy by calling for “Black vigilantes” following the acquittal of Daniel Penny. Penny, a former Marine, was cleared of charges in the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man who died during an altercation on a New York subway.
Neely’s death occurred after he reportedly threatened passengers, shouting violent statements that witnesses described as alarming. Penny restrained Neely in a chokehold, which the defense argued was necessary to protect the safety of those on board.
Reacting to the verdict, Newsome expressed outrage and called for action. “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?” Newsome said, urging the rise of “Black vigilantes” to combat perceived injustices.
Newsome also took aim at the broader societal issues he believes contributed to Neely’s death. “America will never fix the issue of black people because America needs a punching bag,” he said. “So f**k America.”
The jury’s decision was influenced by testimony from Dr. Satish Chundru, who stated that Neely’s death resulted from multiple contributing factors, including synthetic marijuana use, schizophrenia, and a sickle cell crisis. Chundru concluded that the chokehold did not directly cause Neely’s death.
The case and Newsome’s comments have reignited national debates on race, justice, and public safety. Supporters of Penny argue the verdict was a defense of self-protection, while critics, including Newsome, claim the case highlights racial inequities in the justice system.
