Protests and outrage came after Daniel Penny took Jordan Neely’s life to protect others. This time it’s silence.
The right to self-defense is the right from which all other rights are derived. As John Locke stated, self-defense is the first law of nature. Each person owns his or her own life, and no other person has a right to take that life or hinder the preservation thereof. Those who attempt to persecute people for practicing this right are doing a disservice to justice, which is why the following case is beyond worrisome.
Amidst an alarming surge in subway violence, two New Yorkers recently found themselves forced to act in self-defense when confronted with aggressive individuals on the city’s trains. Their responses ended in fatalities, and now both men face manslaughter charges. The charges are in spite of both incidents taking place in front of dozens of witnesses. Not surprisingly, only one of these cases is receiving or has received round-the-clock mainstream coverage.
In a society that often upholds the right to self-defense, these charges stand as stark reminders of a justice system that seems to respond subjectively to cases involving personal protection.
In the most recent incident, Jordan Williams, a 20-year-old Queens resident, intervened when a man reportedly punched his girlfriend and harassed other subway riders. Williams’ response led to the stabbing and death of the assailant, Devictor Ouedraogo. Jason Goldman, Williams’ attorney, insists his client was acting in self-defense. Despite this, Williams was charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon, while another, unnamed individual, was released from custody.
In a second, very similar situation, 24-year-old former U.S. Marine Daniel Penny subdued a man threatening passengers on a subway train. Using a chokehold, Penny held down Jordan Neely until he ceased moving, ultimately resulting in Neely’s death. Witnesses claimed Neely was “aggressively threatening” riders, but despite Penny’s actions being in defense of those around him, he has been indicted on a second-degree manslaughter charge.
These incidents shed light on a concerning pattern – New Yorkers who step in when authorities fail to control subway violence are being penalized. Williams and Penny both took action to protect themselves and others from belligerent individuals when the system designed to safeguard them was nowhere in sight. Yet, they are now facing charges as if they were the aggressors.
Instead of pointing out these injustices, many New Yorkers marched in support of Neely, calling him a martyr — despite his repeated history of violence and the events that day. Even Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the rest of her ilk referred to Neely’s death as a “modern-day lynching,” stoking divide and hatred instead of allowing for nuance and critical thought. Will they say the same about Ouedraogo?
Notably, Williams’ attorney has questioned whether his client’s treatment reflects racial and socioeconomic biases, highlighting discrepancies between Williams’ and Penny’s handling by law enforcement as it took authorities weeks to indict Penny. Such biases have no place in a fair justice system, and all people should have the right to protect themselves without fear of legal repercussions, especially when America’s monopoly on security falls short.
The charging of these two men raises significant questions about the impartiality of our justice system. It is essential that we, as a society, critically examine how we view and uphold the right to self-defense, particularly in situations where authorities fail to ensure public safety. As violence continues unabated in NYC’s subway system, the need for this conversation, and many others, becomes ever more urgent.
Article posted with permission from Matt Agorist
