| by Taroob Riaz and W.Daka
Jordan Neely was a Michael Jackson impersonator who suffered from mental illness and was homeless.
Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old formerly homeless individual, tragically lost his life when he was restrained in a chokehold by Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old ex-U.S. Marine. Penny has since been charged with manslaughter. The incident sparked widespread debates over issues of vigilantism and crime in New York City, especially concerning the safety of the subway system where the incident occurred. Mr Neely, known for impersonating Michael Jackson, was reportedly shouting and requesting money from subway passengers when Penny intervened.
Jordan Neely was reported to have mental health issues as a result of his mother's death. In the aftermath of Neely's death, many have begun to question how people struggling with mental illness need to be given adequate help instead of it being seen in a bad light by society. A funeral was held for Jordan Neely in Harlem with hundreds gathering to mourn his death.
Protests held across New York City followed in the wake of Neely's slaying. Protestors were seen holding signs that paid their respects to Jordan Neely. Others held signs expressing their disappointment in the justice system with yet another death occurring to a Black man due to being put in a chokehold in recent years. Much criticism has sparked that there is already proof, especially since George Floyd's death in 2020, of how dangerous and deadly the position can be. Mr Neely, however, was yet another that had died due to this position. Protests grew violent with the NYPD making arrests of protesters and even arresting a photographer on one occasion.
Homelessness and the support for those that are struggling have also come into question since the tragedy. Statements have aroused around budgets set for the homeless community in New York City, the fact that not enough people can afford mental health resources, amongst how a lack of resources for basic human amenities such as shelter and food have led the homeless community to find refuge in areas such as subway stations.
Protestors on 8 May 2023 at a vigil for Jordan in NYC. Several were arrested after police were seen on standby as a result of the rowdy protests over the weekend. Courtesy of New York Post.
The case of Jordan Neely illuminates profound societal quandaries on vigilantism, mental health, and the criminal justice system.
It brings to light difficult, yet necessary discussions to be held on how equipped ordinary citizens are in dealing with emergencies, especially during mental health emergencies.
First, this incident shines a spotlight on the inadequacies of mental health support in the US. Neely, amid a mental health crisis, was reportedly shouting at passengers and aggressively demanding money before he was restrained by Daniel Penny. His mental health struggles had not been adequately addressed by the societal safety net supposedly in place to assist individuals like him.
As such, this case begs the question: What if there had been effective interventions earlier in Neely’s life? Could an adequate support system have prevented this tragedy? Just like many others, this case highlights the critical importance of mental health resources, particularly in urban areas with a high homeless population.
On the other hand, there’s the issue of vigilantism and passive bystanding. Penny, a former marine, thought he had the training necessary to restrain Neely without causing him harm, but regardless of intentions, his actions directly resulted in a fatality; which has sparked a debate around the role of civilians in law enforcement and their ability to handle volatile situations.
Here, it’s important to address the societal implications of this event. It serves as a reminder to the public about what happens when untrained individuals take matters into their own hands - whilst many are understandably uncomfortable with unruly behaviour, untrained intervention can have devastating consequences.
The legal ramifications are also not to be understated. The charge against Penny is a significant development, considering the growing pushback against potentially lethal restraint methods, like chokeholds.
The outcome will likely be dependent on whether it can be proven that Penny knew his actions would kill. Regardless, it’s a reminder of the myriad of social issues that converge in public every day. Mental health, homelessness and the societal notions of personal responsibilities all collided in that fateful encounter. Society must strive to prevent future incidents such as these, creating environments where every individual’s safety and wellbeing are valued and protected - instead of viewing those suffering as just another statistic.
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