NEWS
‘Subway killer’ Daniel Penny’s actions expose a gap in US law enforcement
Published
11 months agoon
Conservatives have converged to defend the ex-Marine charged with the killing of homeless man Jordan Neely on the New York subway
In the pulsing underbelly of New York City, amidst the rhythmic thunder of subway cars, a drama as complex and multifaceted as the city itself has unfolded.
The protagonist, a man named Daniel Penny, has become the subject of a tumultuous national conversation. A former Marine, Penny now faces second-degree manslaughter charges following a subway altercation with Jordan Neely, a homeless man plagued by a disconcerting rap sheet.
This case transcends the boundaries of a Manhattan courtroom to delve into the tumultuous realm of public opinion, becoming a cipher for a country grappling with its very interpretation of justice.
The image of Daniel Penny, an unassuming ex-Marine with an (until recently) unblemished record, now adorns headlines nationwide. His life took an abrupt turn after a fateful encounter with Neely, whose long-standing criminal history includes violent assault and a chilling attempt at kidnapping a seven-year-old child. On that train, according to witness reports, Neely was acting in a hostile and erratic manner, telling riders that he was ready to hurt (even kill, according to some) someone, and willing to “take a bullet” or go to jail. Penny acted to subdue Neely, seeking to de-escalate a potentially volatile situation. The ex-Marine took Neely into a chokehold, which ultimately resulted in the latter’s death.
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Penny’s actions have cast him as a dual figure, perceived as both hero and villain. For some, he is a guardian who intervened to protect the public; for others, he’s a vigilante who brazenly usurped the role of law enforcement. This dichotomy emerges as violent crime rates surge across US cities — a spike critics blame on the policies of district attorneys funded by billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
The narrative surrounding Penny’s case has rapidly been swept up in a political current, although Penny himself has revealed little about his own political leanings. Nevertheless, conservative figures and groups have swiftly converged on Penny’s cause, depicting him as a contemporary embodiment of the good Samaritan. At their behest, a crowdfunding campaign on GiveSendGo, a platform marketing itself as a Christian crowdfunding site, has garnered over $2.6 million for Penny’s legal defense, as of Thursday night.
Among the most vocal supporters of Penny is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential contender in the next presidential race. He has encouraged followers to contribute to Penny’s fund, drawing parallels between Penny and the biblical Good Samaritan who, moved by compassion, assists a man left beaten and destitute by the wayside.
This conservative rallying around Penny eerily mirrors the 2020 case of Kyle Rittenhouse. At 17, Rittenhouse shot three men, fatally wounding two, amid a violent demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Though he was later acquitted, Rittenhouse was assailed with politically-tinged accusations and public condemnation, with critics branding him a white supremacist.
Both Rittenhouse and Penny have emerged as emblems of a burgeoning “stand your ground” ethos within the conservative movement. This philosophy is driven by perceived laxity in law enforcement and an adoption of progressive policies like “restorative justice” and bail reform, which critics argue engender an aversion to charging or prosecuting criminals.
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At the center of this controversy stands Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a figure emblematic of what critics view as an excessively lenient approach to crime. Bragg is one among numerous prosecutors nationwide who have received financial support from George Soros, a well-known benefactor of liberal causes. Soros stands accused by critics, including Governor DeSantis, of indirectly fanning the flames of rising crime through his support for such prosecutors.
With violent crime rates escalating across America, the case of Daniel Penny casts a spotlight on the diverging American perspectives on justice and personal responsibility. It offers a harsh critique of a criminal justice system that appears more complex and polarizing than ever. The outcome of this case and the ensuing national dialogue will undoubtedly carry profound implications for the direction of criminal justice reform in America.
In this fraught landscape, Penny emerges not just as an individual embroiled in a life-altering legal battle, but as a symbol of a wider societal discourse. His story is a reflection of our collective anxieties and the paradox of justice in modern America. As the nation watches and waits, the saga of Daniel Penny continues to remind us all of the complexities of justice, the power of public opinion, and the uneasy intersection between the two.
The debate over Penny’s actions unfolds in a country grappling with a rapidly changing social landscape, one where long-held norms about law enforcement and personal responsibility are being upended. But those at the front lines of this discussion, those who find themselves in situations of potential danger, may have a different view. Let us set aside the political rhetoric for a moment and look at the heart of the matter: safety and the protection of the innocent.
In defending Penny, proponents argue that his actions, far from being a reckless display of vigilantism, were instead a courageous and necessary intervention. Here was a man with the physical capability and presence of mind to mitigate a potentially explosive situation. The past actions of Jordan Neely can be seen as clear indications that he was a potential danger to the people around him in that subway car. of potential harm. The man had been arrested dozens of times, and was associated with violent assault on a child and an elderly woman. When viewed from this perspective, Penny’s actions become less an act of aggression, and more a protective response to a clear and present danger.
Penny’s detractors argue, among other things, that he had no way of knowing, then and there, about Neely’s violent history, and the latter’s behavior on the scene alone was not threatening enough to justify such forceful vigilantism. Race is also brought into the debate, with an argument that Penny was emboldened by his inherent “white privilege” to kill Neely, who was black, poor and had mental health issues.
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Ultimately, Penny’s actions were not an attempt to supplant law enforcement but to fill a critical gap in a moment where time was of the essence. This case exposes flaws in the US criminal justice system — a system that is more interested in preserving a progressive image than ensuring public safety. Can we cast blame on those who rise to confront threats when our institutions seem reluctant to do so?
Governor DeSantis and others backing Penny underscore this perspective. The support stands not only as an endorsement of Penny but as a broader critique of a system veering dangerously towards a permissive stance on crime. If we demonize those who stand up to potential threats, we risk cultivating an environment where the innocent feel abandoned and the guilty feel emboldened.
In light of the current state of rising crime rates, those opposing Penny should pause and reflect on a rather uncomfortable hypothetical: If you found yourself on a subway train with Jordan Neely, knowing his history and potential for violence, wouldn’t you wish for a Daniel Penny to be there?
As the trial unfolds and we witness the courtroom battles and public opining, let us not lose sight of the human element at the core of this case. Penny represents the potential in all of us to rise to unexpected challenges, to protect those around him. The question we must grapple with is whether such a response should be celebrated or censured.
Navigating these issues is no simple task, and we as a society must come to terms with this uneasy tension. How we reconcile these perspectives will shape not only the outcome for Daniel Penny but the broader narrative of justice in America. Perhaps it’s time to consider that our subway cars, and indeed our society, need more individuals like Penny, willing to stand up when others won’t. After all, when danger stares us in the face, we’d all want a good Samaritan to come to our aid.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of TSFT.
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The Bundeswehr decided to jettison inventory that does not fit new dispensers
The German military is auctioning off nearly 10,000 rolls of toilet paper that do not fit new dispensers at Bundeswehr facilities, local media reported on Monday.
According to a posting on the Vebeg online auction platform, which was picked up by the German TV network RTL, the Bundeswehr is offering a total of 12 pallets of toilet paper stored in 360 boxes that has a transport weight of over 3 tons.
While it is unclear when exactly the ad was posted, the auction is scheduled to last until May 31. The winning bidder will be able to pick up the toilet paper, which was produced by the Sweden-based company Tork, at the military barracks in the city of Wesel, not far from Munster in the northwestern part of the country.
Potential buyers will need to register with the military department where the inventory is being stored before coming to the premises to pick it up or view it, the ad reads.
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The German military told RTL that the sale was due to having switched the toilet paper dispensers at Bundeswehr sanitary facilities to pieces made by a different company.
“However, the toilet paper from the first company cannot be used in a universal hygiene dispenser,” a Bundeswehr spokesman told the outlet.
According to RTL, the German military has also put printer toners, desks, and laptops up for sale.
The state of the Bundeswehr stocks of weaponry and other equipment and amenities has been an issue of concern in Germany. In March, Eva Hogl, who serves as the country’s parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, claimed that the Bundeswehr “has too little of everything and it has had even less since February 24, 2022,” referring to when Russia started its military campaign in Ukraine. Since then, Berlin has provided massive military and economic support to Kiev.
She noted that the German army also lacked “functioning toilets, clean showers… indoor sports facilities, troop kitchens… and last but not least, wireless internet.”
Hogl also pointed out that the government had failed to spend any of the money from a €100 billion ($108 billion) special defense fund created last year in light of the Ukraine conflict.
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The Falcon 9 has successfully blasted off on a private mission carrying Saudi and American astronauts to the ISS
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, on a mission from the Houston-based company Axiom Space. It also carried the first Saudi woman to travel to the cosmos.
The mission, dubbed Ax-2, is Axiom’s second private mission bound for the International Space Station. The company utilized SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, named Freedom, to carry the crew and the Falcon 9 to deliver it from Earth’s atmosphere.
Shortly after liftoff, the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket successfully performed a boost-back burn to SpaceX’s Landing Zone-1 and touched down safely about seven minutes and 45 seconds after launch.
The Dragon then detached from the Falcon 9’s upper stage some 12 minutes after liftoff and headed to the ISS to perform a docking scheduled for Monday.
Aboard Freedom are the first two Saudi Arabian nationals to travel to the ISS, including stem cell researcher Rayyanah Barnawi – the first Saudi woman ever to enter space. Joining the Ax-2 as mission pilot is businessman John Shofner, who paid out of his own pocket for the trip.
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Leading the mission is commander Peggy Whitson – a former NASA astronaut who has spent 665 days in space throughout her career, more than any other American or any other woman, and was also the first woman to serve as commander aboard the ISS. She currently works as Axiom’s director of human spaceflight.
The four-person crew is expected to spend eight days aboard the ISS, living and working alongside the seven astronauts currently residing there. They will also conduct independent research, including into how people that have not undergone rigorous training will react when first introduced to microgravity.
Axiom has announced plans to further develop commercialized spaceflight and even launch its own free floating private space station by the end of the decade. The first module of this future station is expected to be sent up to the ISS next year, with another three pieces to follow by the end of 2027.
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The move may prompt more African nations to ratify the Malabo Protocol, a political analyst told TSFT
Kenyan President William Ruto says his country will ratify the 2014 Malabo Protocol by September in a move towards making the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) an official legislative organ of the African Union (AU).
The Malabo Protocol seeks to convert the PAP into a full-fledged legislative body, which would hold jurisdiction over international and transnational organized crimes; in other words, creating an African international crimes court.
The protocol must be approved by at least 28 countries before it can enter into force. However, only 15 of the 22 signatories to the protocol in 2014 have ratified it, making Kenya the 16th.
Ken Bosire, a Kenyan political analyst, told RT that Nairobi’s decision to give the PAP legislative power is a “positive move” that could inspire other African leaders to follow suit. “The new president of Kenya seems to have some kind of persuasive sway among leaders of the region,” he added.
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