Former Marine Daniel Penny gives first interview since Jordan Neely's chokehold death, explains why he's not a white supremacist



Former Marine Daniel Penny gave his first interview since Jordan Neely's chokehold death to the New York Post on Saturday. In the interview, Penny explained that he is not a white supremacist or a vigilante.

Last week, Penny was charged with second-degree manslaughter in connection with the chokehold death of Neely on a New York City subway car on May 1. Witnesses say Neely was acting erratic and aggressive to other subway riders.

Neely's reported criminal record includes 42 prior arrests between 2013 and 2021, including four for assault. At the time of his death, he had an active warrant for felony assault in connection with a physical altercation in 2021.

During Neely's funeral on Friday, Rev. Al Sharpton said, "When they choked Jordan, they put their arms around all of us."

Meanwhile, the GiveSendGo fundraising campaign for Penny's legal defense has raised more than $2.7 million.

The Boston Globe accused Republicans of "financing white vigilantism."

The Guardian stressed the races of Penny and Neely in a recent article, and used a quote from attorney Ron Kuby.

"It’s not new, and it’s not hard to explain," Kuby said. "Your Penny is a white Marine, and his victim was a mentally ill, homeless … queer Black man. So that’s the agenda of white supremacy playing out right there.”

Penny refuted the accusations that the killing of the 30-year-old mentally ill homeless man had anything to do with race or white supremacy.

“This had nothing to do with race,” Penny told the New York Post.

“I judge a person based on their character," Penny proclaimed. "I’m not a white supremacist.

“I mean, it’s, it’s a little bit comical. Everybody who’s ever met me can tell you, I love all people, I love all cultures," the 24-year-old ex-Marine explained. "You can tell by my past and all my travels and adventures around the world. I was actually planning a road trip through Africa before this happened.”

Penny has traveled to Mexico, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Greece, and Spain.

Asked about the allegations that he is a white vigilante, Penny responded, “I’m a normal guy.”

Penny recounted that the day of the confrontation was "different, this time was much different."

“I was going to my gym,” Penny recalled. “There’s a pool there. I like to swim. I was living in the East Village. I take the subway multiple times a day. I think the New York transit system is the best in the world and I’ve been all over the world.”

Penny’s attorney Thomas Kenniff said that fellow F train passengers were thankful for the ex-Marine standing up the Neely.

“I can tell you that the threats, the menacing, the terror that Jordan Neely introduced to that train has already been well documented. I don’t think it’s going to even be controversial," Kenniff said. "There are numerous witnesses from all different walks of life who have absolutely no motive to do anything other than to recount what actually happened. They are uniform in their recollection of events.”

Regarding the death of Neely, Penny said, “I’m deeply saddened by the loss of life. It’s tragic what happened to him. Hopefully, we can change the system that’s so desperately failed us.”

When asked if he would take the same action again if he were in a similar situation, Penny declared, “You know, I live an authentic and genuine life. And I would — if there was a threat and danger in the present …”

He added that he has nothing to be ashamed of because he always does what he thinks is right.

Penny said the threats he has received has forced him to take college classes remotely for his safety.

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Daniel Penny, charged in NYC subway chokehold death, finally speaks: "I am not a white supremacist" www.youtube.com

Democratic strategist gets torched online for claiming threat of crime on NYC subway is an 'imaginary' monster​



A tweet from a Democratic strategist went viral after she claimed that she had "safely ridden" the subway in New York City for 23 years and that critics were complaining about "imaginary monsters."

Elizabeth Spiers was responding to a criticism from Dan MacLaughlin of National Review in the wake of the death of a black man after he threatened passengers and was put into a chokehold by a former U.S. Marine.

"Hi - New Yorker here. I’ve safely ridden the subway for 23 years and my child has never been menaced by a half naked lunatic, but these imaginary monsters in your head are addressable with therapy," tweeted Spiers in response.

\u201cHi - New Yorker here. I\u2019ve safely ridden the subway for 23 years and my child has never been menaced by a half naked lunatic, but these imaginary monsters in your head are addressable with therapy.\u201d
— Elizabeth Spiers (@Elizabeth Spiers) 1683548531

Her tweet received 1.3k likes of support and 1.7 views, but others derided her for downplaying the threat that many face on the New York City subway system.

"I worked in Manhattan from 1996-2020. While the city was safer for many of those years than it is today, if you've never encountered an alarming lunatic on the subway or its platforms, I question what city you've been traveling in," MacLaughlin responded.

Others mocked her for making an argument for subway safety based on anecdotal evidence.

"I know someone from Chicago who’s never been shot. It follows that gun violence in that city is imaginary," replied Seth Dillon of the Babylon Bee.

"This is not true. It used to be. If I thought my 13 year old son could safely and routinely take the subway I’d still live in NYC. It’s almost that simple," responded columnist David Marcus.

"Your subway privilege is showing! I have been SPAT on, FOLLOWED, and witnessed full blown ASSAULTS. I have filed MULTIPLE police reports for crimes I’ve witnessed and I only lived in NYC for 7 years. Just because it doesn’t happen to you, doesn’t mean it’s imaginary," replied Hayley Caronia, an OutKick producer.

"My daughter used to be a New Yorker too but her experience was different. She felt unsafe when she rode the subway. So much so that she moved to a different city when her job went remote. Thanks for invalidating her experience because apparently only yours matters," read another popular response.

Many on the left have claimed Jordan Neely was killed because he was a black man, but others defend the actions of the 24-year-old former Marine by pointing out that Neely had 42 prior arrests and had been threatening passengers.

Spiers was the founder of Gawker before it went under and also worked as the editor of the New York Observer when Jared Kushner owned the publication.

Here's more about the death of Jordan Neely:

Jordan Neely video shows U.S. cities are ‘BECOMING GOTHAM’www.youtube.com

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Video shows Jordan Neely protesters in New York City clash with police, block subway tracks, threaten to 'tear the city down'



A mob upset over Jordan Neely's chokehold death launched a protest in New York City that turned aggressive. The protesters clashed with police and purposely blocked the subway tracks to disrupt public transportation on Saturday.

Video shows a group of protesters standing on the subway tracks to disrupt public transportation. The agitators blocked the subway track serving the F and Q trains, which caused the trains to be temporarily shut down. Video shows the moment an incoming train heads towards the protesters, but is forced to stop before getting to the subway platform.

(WARNING: Explicit language)

\u201cBreaking: Protesters are now disrupting the subway in NYC for Jordan Neely\u201d
— Rebecca Brannon (@Rebecca Brannon) 1683411315

Jordan Neely protesters clashed with NYPD officers on the subway platform. Demonstrators became violent and got into physical confrontations with police officers. Some agitators refused to stop blocking the doors of a subway car from closing. The angry mob intimidated subway passengers from exiting the train.

\u201cWoman in green and NYPD cop get into fight. Multiple arrests being made and protesters pinned to ground. \n\n#JordanNeely\u201d
— Rebecca Brannon (@Rebecca Brannon) 1683412740
\u201cNYC subway riders are getting frustrated with protesters interrupting and disrupting their rides \n\n#JordanNeely\u201d
— Rebecca Brannon (@Rebecca Brannon) 1683412468

Numerous agitators were arrested by police.

\u201cNPYD Police wrestle with another protester who resists arrest and is taken down on the ground and cuffed.\u201d
— Rebecca Brannon (@Rebecca Brannon) 1683416810
\u201cTwo majors arrests were just made as protesters continue to clash with NYPD.\n\nOne protester claims he can\u2019t breathe.\n\nThe other is carried away in cuffs.\n\n#JordanNeely\u201d
— Rebecca Brannon (@Rebecca Brannon) 1683416315

Independent photojournalist Rebecca Brannon took video of an injured NYPD officer hobbling to a police vehicle while protesters shouted, "I hope you die!"

\u201cA NYPD officer has been injured after being pushed in a clash w/ protesters - I\u2019m told he may have a broken leg. \n\nI\u2019m not sure if it can be heard in the audio but protesters shout \u201cI hope you die!\u201d\u201d
— Rebecca Brannon (@Rebecca Brannon) 1683417295

Brannon also alleged, "There were also reports some ran down the tunnels, disrupting the subways for hours and thousands in transit. I’m told the subways are still disrupted and backed up all over."

Protesters threatened to "tear the city down" if there was no justice for Neely.

\u201cNew York City protesters angry over the death of Jordan Neely are threatening to "tear the city down" unless something is done about the marine who killed him.\u201d
— Ian Miles Cheong (@Ian Miles Cheong) 1683419112

The protests were spawned by the death of career criminal Jordan Neely by a U.S. Marine who put him in a chokehold after becoming aggressive on the subway.

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Dem Mayor Eric Adams rebukes AOC for calling Jordan Neely's death a 'public murder': 'I don't think that's very responsible'



New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) publicly rebuked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Thursday for describing the death of Jordan Neely as a "murder."

What happened?

Neely was choked to death Monday while riding a subway train. Witnesses allege Neely was acting in a "hostile" and "erratic" manner while screaming, WABC-TV reported. That's when a 24-year-old Marine veteran, whose name has not been released, placed Neely in a chokehold. Tragically, Neely died from the restraint.

It's not clear if Neely had threatened violence, but he did not assault anyone.

The medical examiner ruled Neely's death a "homicide," finding he died from "compression of neck." The Marine who put Neely in a chokehold was questioned and released by police.

What did AOC say?

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is investigating the incident, but he has not yet filed any criminal charges. But the lack of any criminal charges did not stop Ocasio-Cortez from describing Neely's death as a "murder."

"Jordan Neely was murdered," Ocasio-Cortez declared on Wednesday.

\u201cJordan Neely was murdered.\n\nBut bc Jordan was houseless and crying for food in a time when the city is raising rents and stripping services to militarize itself while many in power demonize the poor, the murderer gets protected w/ passive headlines + no charges.\n\nIt\u2019s disgusting.\u201d
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1683150734

The progressive lawmaker also took specific issue with Adams' statement about the incident. Adams described Neely's death as "tragic" but refrained from offering specific comments about it because "there's a lot we don't know about what happened here." Adams also made note of Neely's alleged struggles with mental health.

In response, Ocasio-Cortez called Adams' statement a "new low."

"This honestly feels like a new low: not being able to clearly condemn a public murder because the victim was of a social status some would deem 'too low' to care about," she said.

How did Adams respond?

The mayor contended that Ocasio-Cortez was speaking irresponsibly because the investigation remains ongoing.

"I don’t think that’s very responsible at the time when we’re still investigating the situation," Adams said of her declaration, the New York Sun reported.

"Let the DA conduct his investigation with the law enforcement officials," he added. "To really interfere with that is not the right thing to do, and I'm going to be responsible and allow them to do their job."

Murder is generally defined as killing someone (a homicide) with intent or without legal justification. Manslaughter, on the other hand, is killing someone without intent.

While the Marine veteran has not yet been charged with any crime, the New York Daily News reported Thursday that investigators are weighing charges or presenting evidence to a grand jury to determine if there is sufficient evidence for charges.

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