It has been a week since Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man with a history of mental illness and violence, was killed by a chokehold on a subway train by Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old Marine veteran who tried to subdue him after he harassed other passengers. Since then, New York City has witnessed several protests by activists who claim that Neely was a victim of racism and demand justice for his death.
These protesters have disrupted subway service, blocked traffic, clashed with police, and vandalized public property. They have shown no regard for the safety and convenience of other New Yorkers, who have to deal with the consequences of their lawlessness. They have also shown no sympathy for the victims of Neely’s aggression, who had to endure his threats and assaults for years.
One of these victims was a 67-year-old woman who was punched in the face by Neely in 2021. She suffered a broken nose and eye socket, and had to undergo surgery. She is still traumatized by the attack, and fears going out alone. Neely had an active warrant for this assault at the time of his death. He had been arrested 42 times before, including four times for assault.
Protesters are now disrupting the NYC subway to protest the death of Jordan Neely. pic.twitter.com/9y5SDetzQX
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 6, 2023
But these protesters don’t care about her, or any other innocent person who suffered at the hands of Neely. They only care about their own agenda, which is to demonize law enforcement and portray criminals as martyrs. They ignore the fact that Penny was not a police officer, but a civilian who acted in self-defense and in defense of others. They ignore the fact that Neely was not a peaceful protester, but a violent offender who posed a threat to everyone around him.
They also ignore the fact that there are other victims of violence who deserve more attention and compassion than Neely. Just last month, a gunman opened fire at a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee.
This was a horrific act of terrorism that shocked and saddened the nation. But where were the protesters then? Where were the vigils, the marches, the rallies? Where were the calls for justice, for reform, for action? Where were the tears, the outrage, the grief?
They were nowhere to be found. The protesters who are now crying for Neely were silent for the victims at the Christian school. They did not care about their lives, their families, their futures. They did not care about their faith, their values, their rights.
They did not care because they did not fit their narrative. They did not fit their agenda. They did not fit their ideology.
This is the hypocrisy of Jordan Neely protests. This is the hypocrisy of those who claim to fight for justice, but only for those who share their views. This is the hypocrisy of those who claim to value human life, but only when it serves their interests.
This hypocrisy must be exposed and challenged. This hypocrisy must be denounced and rejected. This hypocrisy must be stopped and defeated.
As Elon Musk said in a recent interview, “Why didn’t they protest the children who were mŐ˝rdered at the Christian school?”
That is a question that every protester should ask themselves before they take to the streets again.