Walter ‘Hawk’ Newsome, a prominent Black Lives Matter leader, made waves following the verdict in the trial of Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran who had been charged in connection with the death of Jordan Neely on a New York City subway.
Newsome, who claims to be Neely’s uncle, was present in the courtroom throughout the trial.
Upon hearing the not guilty verdict on Monday, he became visibly enraged and made an inflammatory statement directed at Penny: “It’s a small f**king world, buddy.”
Calls for Action Amidst the Courtroom Chaos
As the courtroom descended into chaos, Newsome took his anger to the streets, addressing the media and a group of protesters gathered outside the courthouse.
His message was direct and provocative: “It’s time for black vigilantes.”
Newsome went on to call for the creation of black vigilante groups, citing the lack of similar movements for Black people in comparison to other communities.
“Everybody else has vigilantes. We need some black vigilantes,” he declared.
His statement suggested that if others were able to act with violence when provoked, Black people should be able to do the same in response to oppression.
Protesters’ Outcry and Public Sentiment
Outside the courthouse, tensions ran high as protesters directed their anger at the police, chanting “f**k the police” and demanding to know why law enforcement hadn’t been present to protect Neely earlier.
Neely, a homeless, mentally ill Black man, had been threatening people on the subway when Penny intervened, ultimately putting him in a chokehold to restrain him.
Penny maintained that he was trying to protect passengers, while critics argue that his actions were excessive.
The trial itself lasted several weeks, including long deliberations, with protests outside the courtroom growing increasingly vocal.
Penny was dubbed the “subway strangler” by demonstrators, who called for justice and warned that there would be “no peace without justice.”
Penny’s legal team argued that such statements were threatening to jurors and could influence the trial’s outcome.
Newsome’s Bold Statements Outside the Courthouse
Following the verdict, Newsome addressed the crowd once more, reinforcing his call for action and expressing his support for the protesters who had been there throughout the trial.
“I love you all,” he said, acknowledging those who had been braving the cold each day to stand up against what they saw as injustice.
He emphasized that Black people could no longer trust authorities to protect them, stressing that they needed to take matters into their own hands to ensure their safety.
“We patrol our community,” Newsome declared. “We keep us safe.”
He also voiced his deep frustration with America’s treatment of Black people, claiming that the country had designated Black people as a “punching bag” for society.
His words were sharp: “So, f**k America. How dare you laugh and cheer when someone gets away with murdering us.”
The Road Ahead: A Call for Change
Newsome’s passionate outcry encapsulated a growing sense of distrust in the justice system and law enforcement.
“I don’t want a march. I want a step,” he said, signaling that the call for justice wasn’t just about protesting but about concrete actions to address systemic racism.
He ended his speech with a fiery condemnation: “Racists: burn in hell.”
The question now is what will come next in this ongoing struggle for justice, with many questioning if change will ever truly come.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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