Daniel Penny joined dignitaries at the Army-Navy football game last Saturday as an invited guest of Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. In contrast for our times, if it was up to the denizens of the left, Penny would be in a jail cell for the rest of his life.
It was in May 2023 that a 30-year-old homeless schizophrenic named Jordan Neely, high on synthetic marijuana, threatened subway riders in the bowels of Manhattan. Neely’s criminal credentials included 42 arrests from theft to assault. Neely’s repertoire during this subterranean ride included throwing garbage and issuing death threats.
Amid Neely’s increasing volume and threats was 24-year-old Marine Corps Sgt. Daniel Penny who did what so many simply won’t – he selflessly acted to protect those around him. From the Halls of Montezuma to the subways of New York. Penny’s courage prevailed over woke cowardice underscoring the refrain on how a Marine can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
There is nothing like the subway during those notorious “off hours” while riding the “local” because the entertainment is always free, but it can go dark very quickly as this incident proved.
Penny subdued Neely by placing him in a chokehold.
Neely later died while in medical custody.
That fateful subway car was filled with passengers, many of whom were black and Hispanic, who didn’t miss a beat in expressing their gratitude for Penny’s decisive action. Their gratitude was ignored by the New York media. For Penny’s efforts, he was arrested and charged with negligent homicide by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Another story ignored by the mainstream media and reported by black conservative writer Larry Elder noted that on the same day Penny pleaded not guilty, “Jordan Williams and his girlfriend, who are both black, were on a Brooklyn subway train when Williams, 20 years old, was approached by an aggressive 36-year-old ex-con homeless black man, Devictor Ouedraogo. In a confrontation captured on video, Ouedraogo punched Williams’ girlfriend in the face, and Williams then pulled a knife and fatality stabbed Ouedraogo. Unlike in the case of Penny, no activists publicly accused Williams of engaging in “racially motivated vigilantism.”
All charges were dropped against Williams, while Penny’s lengthy trial was just getting underway.
Leftists understand Neely not as a menacing threat to society, but as an unfortunate victim since he was black. Provided Neely was white, and Penny was black, this would be a nonissue. Moreover, if both were black, or if both were white – no charges – just another carefree day riding the BMT.
Neely posed a threat to passengers on the subway, many, if not most, of whom were black. The D.A. who charged Penny is black. The mayor of New York, who praised Penny’s heroism, is black and a retired NYPD captain. The jury that found Penny not guilty included four “people of color.” Yet, Penny’s acquittal, according to the head of the New York Chapter of Black Lives Matter, means “white supremacy got another victory?!”
It was a case that should never have made it to court. Penny was rightfully acquitted, and leftists and racists everywhere went bonkers. Where was their outrage for all the people who felt terrorized by Neely?
Many remain anchored on the sideline refusing to intervene for fear of being charged and enduring our dysfunctional legal system.
Rather, they break out their phones and record it.
Penny should be celebrated for his character and courage. A free and prosperous society applauds those who act on behalf of others. It doesn’t ridicule, criminalize and sue them.
Naturally, Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy blaming racism for Neely’s death. A Neely family member responded, “Today, white supremacy got another victory. Today, the KKK, the Klansmen, the evil in America got another victory. Those among you who say that Daniel Penny is innocent have racism and bias in your heart.”
Enter Neely’s father who personifies the term “deadbeat dad” seeking a substantial payday on the grave of his son he abandoned decades ago recently filed a civil suit against Penny.
Most see through the hypocrisy, begging the question has the pendulum swung far enough for society to finally start admitting the truth about these incidents that are the real “threat to democracy.”
If this civil suit is not thrown out, racist lawfare only continues to spiral out of control to the detriment of all.
~ Maresca is a New York City native and Marine Corps veteran.
