The PAC Perspective by Ted Flint
The jury in Daniel Penny’s chokehold trial rendered the proper verdict. The young marine veteran was cleared Monday of the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide in the death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely, drawing “outrage” from the usual suspects. BLM activists took to the streets vowing retaliation, claiming Neely was targeted because of his race. It was Penny who was targeted. If he were black, or Neely white, the case would have never gone to trial. But that’s not how NYC prosecutor Alvin Bragg operates. Bragg, who is up for re-election, from day one made this case about skin color. He and other progressive soft-on-crime prosecutors view everything through the prism of race. But this case was never about race, but about Penny stepping in and doing what any self-respecting man would have done in a similar situation: he protected those on the subway car who felt their lives were in danger.
This was not vigilante justice; it was an act of heroism and about protecting the most vulnerable from harm. It was about a young man trained to protect life and limb springing into action. Neely bragged that he was not afraid of going to prison or of dying when he threatened to kill everybody on that train. Some women on that subway car, at least one of whom was black, testified that they felt threatened.
In a statement, the New York Chapter of Black Lives Matter said the acquittal means,” White supremacy got another victory.” But consider: one of the men who helped Penny subdue Neely is black; the ethnically diverse jury included four “people of color.” The Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, who is black, praised Penny’s act of heroism. Or course, the prosecutor who charged Penny is also black. The Left is looking to exploit Neely’s death to create another George Floyd-type fiasco. Not this time.
There are some, including NYC Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, a Republican, who are calling for the incoming Trump Administration to launch a federal civil rights probe into the Manhattan DA’s Office. That would be a great start.
New York State’s criminal justice system needs an overhaul. No Cash Bail, Raise the Age, Discovery, and making it easier for criminals to have their convictions overturned, needs to end.
If the city and state did their jobs properly and protected the rights of all citizens, Neely might still be alive. Ultimately, each of us is responsible for our own safety and the safety of our families.
As a NY Post headline put it: “The Legislative Assault on the Law-Abiding Needs to End. “Trying to imprison a man with no criminal record and who honorably served his country, is the real injustice in this case.
Commentaires