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By: Jared Evan
In the wake of Daniel Penny’s acquittal, Black Lives Matter activist Walter “Hawk” Newsome called for “black vigilantes” to avenge the death of Jordan Neely, further illustrating the divisive and inflammatory rhetoric the organization thrives on. Outside a Manhattan courthouse on Monday, Newsome, who claims to be Neely’s uncle, openly incited vigilante justice, urging retaliation for the jury’s decision to acquit Penny of negligent homicide charges.
“People want to jump up and choke us and kill us for being loud; how about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us,” Newsome declared to reporters and protesters gathered at the courthouse, according to the New York Post. “Just like everybody else has vigilantes, we need some black vigilantes.”
Such incendiary language is nothing new for Newsome or the Black Lives Matter organization, which has gained notoriety for championing a radical ideology rooted in racial division and social unrest.
Far from helping the Black community, BLM has faced widespread criticism for using tragedies like Neely’s death as a platform for self-promotion, fundraising, and perpetuating a victimhood narrative. Critics argue that BLM is less concerned with justice and more focused on enriching its leaders while sowing discord under the guise of activism.
Newsome’s inflammatory comments escalated when he railed against America, shouting, “F—- America. How dare you laugh and cheer when someone gets away with murdering us. Racists: burn in hell.” His remarks were an apparent reaction to the applause in the courtroom after Penny’s acquittal.
Jordan Neely’s father, Andre Zachary, also voiced his anger and grief outside the courthouse. “My son didn’t have to go through this. I didn’t have to go through this either,” he lamented, visibly emotional. However, the NY Post reported that Zachary’s behavior inside the courtroom disrupted proceedings. He was escorted out after shouting at the audience, “You clapping when my son got f—-ing killed.”
The case of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old homeless man who was restrained in a chokehold by Penny, a 26-year-old Marine veteran, on a Manhattan F train in May 2023, has been fraught with tension and media scrutiny. Penny maintained he acted in self-defense and to protect other passengers after Neely made threatening remarks, including, “Someone’s going to die today.”
BLM’s involvement in the case has only fueled the controversy. Critics of the organization argue that rather than promoting constructive solutions for systemic issues, BLM exploits high-profile incidents to push a divisive, far-left agenda. As noted by the NY Post, the movement has often failed to deliver tangible benefits to the communities it claims to represent, focusing instead on radical demands and sensationalism.
