07 May 2023 , 12:09
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The death of a Black man choked on a New York subway train has been compared to the murder of George Floyd as anger grows over the killing.
Jordan Neely, a homeless Michael Jackson impersonator, was put in a chokehold for 15 minutes.
A former Marine, Daniel J Penny, has been identified as the man who wrestled Neely to the ground. He was questioned by police but released without charge.
Neely, 30, was behaving erratically, saying he needed food and was “ready to die” on the train on Monday.
But British Black Lives Matter activist Delia Mattis believes he would still be alive had he been white.
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She said: “I’m angry, really angry. A white person would not have been treated in the same way.
“He was crying out for food, he was hungry. I don’t think anyone can chokehold someone for 15 whole minutes and think they’re going to be OK.
The former Marine has been identified as Daniel J. Penny
Mr Neely in a chokehold (Facebook)“At some point when you’re choke-holding someone you will feel them go limp or they’ll stop wrestling.”
Penny was a sergeant in the US Marines
based at Camp Lejune, North Carolina. He served until 2021.
With the help of two other male passengers, he restrained Neely on the floor of the train until he lost consciousness. He was pronounced dead later that day.
The city’s medical examiner confirmed his death has been ruled as homicide by way of pressure to the neck.
A journalist on the train, Juan Alberto Vazquez, filmed the harrowing scenes and said Neely had not attacked anyone.
Neely reportedly shouted: “I don’t have food, I don’t have a drink, I’m fed up.”
Penny approached him after he threw his jacket to the floor.
Supporters of Jordan Neely during a vigil (Zuma Press/PA Images)Mattis added: “Here’s a Marine who’s trained to kill people. It’s similar to George Floyd.
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“There is much more awareness of racial injustice but there’s still racial injustice.
“The situation with racism is exactly the same in the UK. The only difference is that since 2020 with the Black Lives Matter uprising, there is just more focus on racism, but racism still exists.
“It’s something we’re going to have to fight about for ever.” George Floyd died when police officer Derek Chauvin
knelt on his neck for nine minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2020.
Footage of 46-year-old’s murder, in which he pleaded “I can’t breathe” sparked global protests.
Jordan’s aunt, Carolyn Neely, said he had not been the same after his mum was strangled to death by his stepdad
in 2007. She said he had developed depression which became “more serious” but he couldn’t get help.
A Manhattan District Attorney spokesman said: “This is a solemn and serious matter. As part of our rigorous ongoing investigation, we will review the medical examiner’s report, assess all available footage, identify and interview as many witnesses as possible and obtain additional medical records.”