Hundreds protest over Black man’s killing by fellow passenger on NYC subway

Hundreds of protesters gathered in New York City on Friday to demand charges against a former US marine who put a subway passenger in a chokehold that killed him, sparking protests over the city’s lack of support for the mentally ill and homeless.

Demonstrators display signs that say “Justice for Jordan Neely” and “Being poor is not a crime” at one of the protests in Washington Square Park in Manhattan this afternoon.

Earlier, the Young Communist League of New York protested at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, demanding that the unidentified man who killed Neely, 30, on Monday be charged. The protesters also demanded an investigation by the police who, according to local media, released them after being questioned.

The former marine, who put Neely in a chokehold while they were both on the F train, has not been charged. The district attorney’s office said it is investigating and will review the medical examiner’s report, which ruled Neely’s death a homicide due to neck compression.

The examiner’s verdict alone does not mean intent or wrongdoing, which is an issue prosecutors will consider when deciding whether to bring criminal charges.

Neely, who is black, is homeless, according to local media reports. The 24-year-old former marine, who is white, was questioned by police and released on Monday, local media said. Local protest organizers called the act a “lynching” and an example of “white vigilantism” against victims of color.

New York Mayor Eric Adams cited mental health issues as playing a role in the incident, but said he would not comment further pending an investigation.

A spate of assaults on train passengers last year, particularly Asian Americans, prompted Adams to increase police patrols and expand outreach to the mentally ill on the rail system, citing homelessness due to the pandemic.

A video of the incident that has gone viral on social media shows an unidentified passenger propositioning a man identified as Neely on the floor of a subway train for more than three minutes. Two other men are seen in the video holding Neely’s hand before she faints.

Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the video.

Neely is known as Michael Jackson, dressing and dancing like the legendary music artist in New York’s busy trains and stations. The confrontation occurred after he boarded the train and began yelling at passengers, saying he was starving and ready to die, The New York Times reported, citing police.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district includes neighborhoods in the New York City boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, said Neely was murdered and called for the killer’s arrest.