By Black Lives Matter
Photos: YouTube Screenshots\Wikimedia Commons
New York, New York– The acquittal of Daniel Penny is a devastating blow to anyone who believes in fairness and accountability. This verdict tells us what we’ve known for far too long: Black lives are treated as if they don’t matter in a system that repeatedly excuses violence against us.
Jordan Neely was unarmed. He didn’t touch any passengers on the train, and multiple riders testified that he didn’t even approach anyone. Despite this, Daniel Penny, a Marine, placed him in a chokehold for six excruciating minutes, a misuse of a technique Penny had been trained to deploy in combat.
This case is a painful reminder of the vigilante violence that killed Trayvon Martin 12 years ago, sparking the founding of Black Lives Matter. Just as George Zimmerman claimed he felt “threatened” to justify taking a young Black life, Daniel Penny’s actions—and now his acquittal—signal that the same narrative continues to protect those who harm us. Both cases reveal how the justice system consistently upholds white supremacy while failing Black lives.
Neely’s story also highlights how society criminalizes vulnerability. Struggling with mental health challenges, including depression and schizophrenia, Neely was a victim of systemic neglect long before his tragic death. His mother was brutally murdered and stuffed into a suitcase when he was just a child. Rather than receiving care and compassion, his struggles were weaponized to justify his murder.
“The acquittal of Daniel Penny is a heartbreaking reminder that our justice system continues to fail Black lives. It sends a dangerous message that the lives of Black people hold less value than the actions of those who harm them. We will not rest until true accountability is served, and until every Black person can walk this earth without fear of violence or injustice.” — D’Zhane Parker, Black Lives Matter
We cannot allow this system to keep erasing Black futures while protecting those who destroy them.
“Neely’s death and Penny’s acquittal are stark reminders of the enduring fight for liberation. From Trayvon Martin to Jordan Neely, we see the same system that devalues Black lives and excuses violence against us. This is why the fight for abolition is not optional—it’s essential.” — D’Zhane Parker, Black Lives Matter.
We honor Jordan Neely’s legacy by standing in solidarity with his family, friends, and the organizers on the ground. We urge everyone to pay attention to the ongoing fight for accountability and to support the work of those leading this struggle.
Black Lives Matter remains committed to creating a future where Black people are safe, cared for, and free from the violence of systemic injustice.
About Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
Our mission is to work inside and outside of the system to heal the past, re-imagine the present, and invest in the future of Black lives through policy change, education, healing justice, and a commitment to the arts. Our vision is to imagine a world where Black people across the diaspora thrive, experience joy, and are not defined by their struggles.
