NYC subway disrupted over chokehold death

Throngs of protesters disrupted traffic on the NYC subway system by jumping into the track well, endangering themselves and others. They did this to protest the death of Jordan Neely, who died when a retired Marine restrained him.

The NYC subway protest

The unorthodox and potentially deadly protest happened at the Lexington Avenue and East 63^rd Street station of the NYC subway. Events got out of control at 6:15 p.m. Saturday (May 6) afternoon, according to The New York Post. Dozens of protesters jumped from the platform onto the tracks. An incoming Q train had to stop abruptly and could not enter for several minutes.

Transit police cleared the tracks, and the Q train rolled in. But then protesters blocked the doorway and kept passengers from disembarking.

One passenger begged officers to clear the doorway to let him off the train. The protesters shouted back taunts, insults, and often contradictory suggestions. For instance, some shouted “find another train” and also shouted suggestions for other routes. The problem: the scene at East 63^rd and Lexington snarled service system-wide. Journalist Rebecca Brannon interviewed Charlton D’Souza, head of Passengers Unite, who described the scene in shocked tones. “They could have been electrocuted!” he said of the protesters who jumped onto the tracks. The infamous Third Rail was, of course, live at the time. “Our city is in crisis,” D’Souza said. “Our city is going down the drain.”

(Why D’Souza was wearing a bright yellow reflective vest that made him look like a public-works employee, is not clear. His choice of attire caused a brief mistake of his identity.)

Passengers Unite issued its own official statement about the disruption at that NYC subway station.

Why did this happen?

The protesters meant to highlight the death of one Jordan Neely, who died on a northbound F train Monday afternoon. Apparently he started shouting at other passengers, throwing trash, and saying things one could interpret as a general threat. “I need food!” he said. “And I won’t take know for an answer! I’m ready to go back to jail, and I will hurt anyone on this train!”

Daniel James Penny, 24, a former active-duty Marine, decided to take action. He approached Neely from behind, then took him in a headlock. At least one other fellow passenger helped hold Neely down, while Penny shouted to others to “call 911.” But in the process, Neely lost consciousness and then died.

The Manhattan medical examiner has ruled the death a homicide. The New York County DA’s office hasn’t charged Penny yet, but is considering charges, perhaps involuntary manslaughter.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) seemed to accuse Penny of at least second-degree murder.

(Whether the F train was traveling through her district at the time, or Neely was an actual constituent of hers, is not clear. New York City is large enough for more than one Congressional district.)

But NYC Mayor Eric Adams slammed “AOC” and City Comptroller Brad Lander for their comments, saying the investigation is still going on.

Brandon Tatum, a former police officer, analyzed Penny’s actions and said he acted properly to contain a dangerous situation. (YouTube has put an age restriction on this video, but a link should be available below.)

Available service

The NYC subway station at East 63^rd Street and Lexington Avenue lies on the former Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit and Independent lines. It serves the F, N, Q, and R trains and allows transfers to the 4, 5, and 6 Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) trains. Arguably the most famous 6 train running along Lexington Avenue is the one that departed from Pelham at 1:23 p.m. This train has featured in two motion picture, each titled The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974 and 2009).