SUBWAY RIDER CHOKED TO DEATH IS MOURNED
In the polarizing wake of Jordan Neely’s chokehold death at the hands of a fellow New York City subway rider, there has been a “distortion of values,” the Rev. Al Sharpton said Friday in eulogizing the former subway performer at his funeral.
Neely, who had been struggling with mental illness and homelessness in recent years, “was screaming for help,” Sharpton told a crowd of relatives, friends and elected officials. They gathered at Harlem’s Mount Neboh Baptist Church to mourn the 30year-old man, whose May 1 death set off a debate about vigilantism, homelessness and public safety.
People having mental health problems “don’t need abuse,” he said, chastising people including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has spoken out in support of Daniel Penny, the man who put Neely in the chokehold. The potential Republican presidential candidate has called Penny a “good Samaritan” and shared a fundraising link for Penny’s legal defense, which has raised more than $2 million.
Sharpton said the Biblical parable of the good Samaritan is about coming to the aid of someone in need.
“A good Samaritan helps those in trouble,” Sharpton said. “They don’t choke him out.”
Sharpton added, “What happened to Jordan was a crime and this family shouldn’t have to stand by themselves.”
Elected officials including Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez and New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado were among the mourners attending the funeral, held at the same church where Neely’s mother, Christie Neely, was eulogized after she was killed when Neely was 14.
Neely’s last moments were recorded on video by an onlooker who said he had been yelling at other passengers as he begged for money, but hadn’t attacked anyone.
Daniel Penny was charged with manslaughter by the Manhattan district attorney last week. Penny’s lawyers say he was acting to protect himself and other passengers after Neely made threatening statements.
Neely’s death and Penny’s subsequent arrest divided New Yorkers and people beyond, with some saying Penny, who is White, was too quick to use deadly force on a Black man who posed no real threat, and others saying the 24-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran shouldn’t be punished for trying to protect people on the train.