New York

Organizing in New York City for TRUTH, JUSTICE AND LOVE!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, December 02, 2024

Dear Comrades,

Where is the solidarity when it comes to the black and Latino community?

Would like to bring to your attention that for the past month there has been a criminal trial at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, 100 Center St. where Daniel Penny is facing a second-degree murder charge for the death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway in 2023. Neely was known as a Michael Jackson impersonator. He was also unhoused. My concern is that there was not a mumbling word from the Coalition of The Homeless, not a mumbling word from the Poor People’s Campaign, The Urban Justice Center, or VOCAL-NY, nor from those groups who would normally show their solidarity. No support for a human being who was murdered in broad daylight. What we witnessed over the past month was a dismal showing and lack of any Solidarity from the minority community. The jury has been meeting for the past six weeks and is expected to render it’s decision in the upcoming week. The only organized group on hand to express their support was the Dec 12th Movement, The National Action Network, Black Lives Matter of Greater NY, Operation P.O.W.E.R.and several other groups. The defense rested it’s case last week without even calling Penny as a witness. The jury is expected to return on Monday for instruction from the judge, with closing arguments and the decision is expected within the coming week. Our purpose now is that our community take a united stand with a joint press conference after the verdict is read. We need to pack the court and show our support for the Neely family, and that the killing of a Black or brown person has consequences. It was only last month that the Black community came together for a Solidarity gathering at the New Canaan Baptist Church in Brooklyn. The purpose of the gathering was to reaffirm “which way forward“ as it relates to Black people and our struggle for freedom and self determination. Please send a representative from your group to stand for Justice for this Monday, December 2, 2024 at 8:00 AM in front of 100 Center Street. Please send a representative from your group for this Monday, 8:00 AM in front of 100 Center Street, and any thoughts on the matter is appreciated.

All trains to City Hall, the Q train to Canal Street

In Solidarity,

Joseph Sellman and

Anthony Moore (BrOdA Tone M.)