December 9, 2024, a verdict of “Not Guilty” brought a sigh of relief for Marine Veteran Daniel Penny, who for 6 minutes held Jordan Neely- a perceived threat, in a chokehold until he defecated in his pants and acquiesced to death.
May 1st, 2023, A “Guilty” verdict was also rendered in absencia for the Michael Jackson Impersonator, Jordan Neely for being plagued with hunger, homelessness and Mental illness. His sentence was death.
A third verdict of “Guilty” was also rendered to the government, Mental Health Community, society at large, who failed to recognized Jordan’s precarious state and intervene by any means to mitigate his eventual death.
Lastly a 4th verdict of “Guilty” rendered to the establishment that creates soldiers that are desensitized of one’s humanity on the battlefield, without a plan to reinstate sensibility before reintegrating them back to civilian life.
On May 1st, 2023, Jordan set afoot on the “F” train, addressing a car full of people, declaring first his hunger, second, stating that he wished to be back in jail and third, confessing that he didn’t care whether he lived or died. For the “Neely’s” of New York, jail is a reprieve from hunger and the harsh elements. Jail is also the place where they are first diagnosed with previous psychiatric conditions and also the setting where they start developing mental illnesses, like depression and anxiety.
The traumas endured in jail/prison are also the bedrock for PTSD and Schizophrenia. While incarcerated, some comply with the psychiatric regimen and continue receiving care on the outside. Others are not that fortunate. They manage their mental illnesses by abusing substances that further deteriorates their mental health conditions.
Jordan was not only known as the Michael Jackson Impersonator, but he was also on the top 50 list of NYC identified homeless individuals with severe mental illnesses, who were also known to resist treatment. It’s commendable that such a list does exist. Is there however, a concerted effort made to procure the funding to help those individuals on the list or to minimize the risk that they pose to the public?
One of the witnesses on the train stated that Daniel Perry looked like he was in a trance, while maintaining the chokehold on Jordan even though it was apparent that he was lifeless. The Defense team asked the judge for the video of Daniel’s interview at the police precinct to be inadmissible due to his nonchalant comments after having a man died from his action.
Jordan’s Mental Health history was on trial, but Daniel’s state of mind was far from scrutiny. What prompted Daniel to intervene while others did not? Was he triggered by Jordan’s action on the train? Is it possible that PTSD played a role in Daniel’s refusal to release Jordan, despite prompting from the two men who were also holding on to Jordan’s legs.
Daniel Perry was quickly dubbed as a hero by some Public Officials. Those same officials would probably vote no to a proposed budget increase to help the most vulnerable group in our society, those battling Mental illnesses.
Yesterday 12/9/2024, Daniel Perry and his family released sighs of relief, while others like myself shed a tear for Neely!!!
Olga Jean-Baptiste

