Examining the Events Surrounding Jordan Neely's Death

A life cut too short

A day after the heartbreaking loss of Jordan Neely, I had the opportunity to sit down with

Jemar Tisby, PhD

to delve into the pressing issues of homelessness, mental health, hate crimes, and the systemic failures that often neglect those unhoused in the United States.

During our conversation¹, we discussed my personal experience with homelessness, my lifelong commitment to serving the unhoused community through Love Beyond Walls, and my initial reflections on the devastating news of Jordan's untimely passing.

Now, a week has passed since Jordan's untimely passing. Throughout this time, the authorities dedicated themselves to meticulously examining the evidence—because of the community's outcries for justice.

They painstakingly reviewed witness testimonies and analyzed surveillance footage to reconstruct the events that led to Jordan's tragic death. Their thorough investigation has reached a significant conclusion: Daniel Penny, through his actions, employed excessive force, disregarding protocol by utilizing the perilous chokehold technique.²

U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny (C) is walked out of the New York Police Department Fifth Precinct in lower Manhattan on Friday morning on his way to arraignment. Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

In my opinion, this crucial step signifies a commitment to seeking justice for Jordan and aims to provide a measure of solace to his grieving loved ones.

1. Check out my interview on

Footnotes by Jemar Tisby

2. Jake Offenhartz, B. C. C. (2023, May 12). Marine veteran who fatally choked NYC subway rider Jordan Neely is freed pending trial. AP NEWS. https://apnews.com/article/jordan-neely-subway-chokehold-3f36c61a13532eead65cf4f8155f13b8