The term “Daniel Penny effect” can now be coined as, unfortunately, the tragic death of the homeless man named Jordan Neely following his being put in a chokehold by Daniel Penny in a New York subway car. This incident is the latest in spates of violent incidents in that underground rapid transit system, and thus this makes for heavy debates on societal ills related to mental health and public safety, among others.
The Jordan Neely incident
Jordan Neely boarded an uptown F train in Manhattan on May 1, 2023. By all accounts, he was acting erratically, shouting that he needed water and food. To this, Daniel Penny-a 26-year-old former Marine-thought he was saving the other passengers. He put Neely into a chokehold that lasted nearly six minutes, even after the train pulled into its next station and the other passengers had gotten off. The medical examiner later ruled Neely’s death a homicide, caused by neck compression.
Penny was indicted on second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. His defense maintained he had an instinctual reaction to what was, in his opinion, a threatening situation; however, prosecutors said he used too much force and failed to recognize Neely’s humanity. The trial shone a light into larger community issues of mental illness and homelessness.
The trial and its implications
The trial of Daniel Penny became a flashpoint for discussions about vigilantism and crime in urban settings. It tapped into public frustrations with the perceived failure of society to address mental health issues adequately, said legal experts. Indeed, many people felt the actions of Penny reflected a growing sentiment of helpless frustration among citizens when it came to erratic behavior on public transit.
Penny was acquitted of all charges, a move that only intensified the debate over race and perception of safety in America. For these racial-advocacy activists, the case put on full display how racial bias can compel people to perceive threats and violence, particularly against Black citizens like Neely.
Recent subway violence: An alarming trend
Another horrific incident that occurred in December 2024: a man, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, apparently doused a woman with flames while she sat on an F train en-route to the Stillwell Avenue stop in Brooklyn. There was surveillance video of the brutal act-the way the flames were started on her body, how Zapeta-Calil watched her burn, instead of saving her or calling for help.
This incident has raised alarms about safety in the subway system, especially after a series of violent attacks that heighten public anxiety about traveling in New York City. Critics say such events expose a deeper problem of disorder and violence within the urban environment especially as the perpetrator was reported to be in the U.S illegally.
Why didn’t the bystanders Intervene?
The question is, why do bystanders fail to act in such situations? In Neely’s case, for example, several passengers had gotten off at the stop where the train had paused to continue his hold on Neely. In that of the fire, according to testimony, onlookers watched as Zapeta-Calil set the woman aflame and did nothing either to save her or immediately call for help.
Some reasons for this include the following:
- Desensitization: The desensitization of seeing constant violence would not make one involve in the issue.
- Fear of retaliation: One might even feel threatened of becoming a victim while witnessing an altercation of any type.
- Social norms: As during the occurrence of some commotion, there is usually a social expectation of turning to others for the signs. No one acts or takes an initiative and seems to believe such inaction was justified.
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