NEW YORK (PIX11) — Protesters gathered again Saturday near the Broadway-Lafayette subway station to demand accountability in the wake of Jordan Neely’s death.
Neely died on a train after investigators said he was put in a chokehold by a passenger and held down by two others for several minutes.
“It’s unfortunate and a tragedy. You would think that we would have some decency when we see acts like that happen in public, so it’s a shame,” said protester Angel Castillo.
On Monday, the 30-year-old who was a homeless street performer, took his final breaths on the very subway where he often impersonated Michael Jackson. Daniel Penny, a former U.S. Marine, claims he restrained Neely for making threats on the train, according to his attorneys. Video of the deadly incident shows Penny with Neely in a chokehold, which the medical examiner ruled caused Neely’s death. Neely’s family told PIX11 News on Friday that he suffered from mental illness.
“Come on man, where’s the justice?” said Barry Knibbs, Neely’s godfather.
New Yorkers, community organizers, and activists have also taken up the call for justice for Neely and his family.
“Jordan wanted food. He wanted something to drink. He was famished. And the response to his call for help, was death,” said rally organizer Kiara Williams.
“This man has a mental issue and the way you handle him is not to put him in a chokehold and squeeze the life out of him. A mental issue on the train is not a sentence for death,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network.
Sharpton and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams called for Penny to be arrested and charged. They question why he and the other two men seen in the video were not charged and drew similarities between this incident and other cases involving the deaths of Black boys and men like Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner.
“We have leaders who cannot even say do not choke. We cannot have vigilantism,” said Williams.
Mayor Eric Adams has said that he is waiting for the investigation to be complete and will not rush to judgment, but some New Yorkers say this should be a wake-up call and a call to action on the homeless crisis.
“Homelessness, rising rent, poverty is a crime in the eyes of our mayor, our governor, and cops. And enough is enough. Stop criminalizing poverty. Do something about it,” said protester Natalie Espinosa.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is investigating the case and will decide whether to pursue charges.
