Rev. Al Sharpton eulogizes Jordan Neely, whose chokehold death on a New York City subway set off a debate about vigilantism, homelessness and public safety, during a funeral service at Harlem’s Mount Neboh Baptist Church, Friday May 19, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
NEW YORK — Friends, family members and civil rights leaders gathered at a Harlem church on Friday to mourn Jordan Neely, whose chokehold death on the New York City subway set off a debate about vigilantism, homelessness and public safety.
A former Michael Jackson impersonator who had been struggling with mental illness and homelessness in recent years, Neely died May 1 when a fellow subway rider pinned him to the floor of a subway car in a chokehold that lasted several minutes.
The fatal struggle was recorded on video by an onlooker who said Neely had been yelling at other passengers as he begged for money, but hadn’t attacked anyone.
Last week the man who pinned and choked Neely, Daniel Penny, was charged with manslaughter by the Manhattan district attorney. Penny’s lawyers say he was acting to protect himself and other passengers after Neely made threatening statements.
Rev. Al Sharpton stands at a pulpit behind the casket of Jordan Neely, the victim of a deathly chokehold on a subway, as he delivers the eulogy for Neely, during a funeral service at Harlem’s Mount Neboh Baptist Church, Friday, May 19, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Andre Zachery, second from left, father of Jordan Neely stands outside with mourners as Neely’s casket leaves a funeral service at Harlem’s Mount Neboh Baptist Church, Friday May 19, 2023, in New York. Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator who had been struggling with mental illness and homelessness in recent years, died May 1 when a fellow subway rider pinned him to the floor of a subway car in a chokehold that lasted several minutes. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Andre Zachery, father of Jordan Neely places his hand on Neely’s casket, after a funeral service at Harlem’s Mount Neboh Baptist Church, Friday May 19, 2023, in New York. Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator who had been struggling with mental illness and homelessness in recent years, died May 1 when a fellow subway rider pinned him to the floor of a subway car in a chokehold that lasted several minutes. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Rev. Al Sharpton stands at a pulpit behind the casket of Jordan Neely, as he delivers the eulogy during a funeral service at Harlem’s Mount Neboh Baptist Church, Friday May 19, 2023, in New York. Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator who had been struggling with mental illness and homelessness in recent years, died May 1 when a fellow subway rider pinned him to the floor of a subway car in a chokehold that lasted several minutes. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Rev. Al Sharpton stands at a pulpit behind the casket of Jordan Neely, as he delivers the eulogy during a funeral service at Harlem’s Mount Neboh Baptist Church, Friday May 19, 2023, in New York. Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator who had been struggling with mental illness and homelessness in recent years, died May 1 when a fellow subway rider pinned him to the floor of a subway car in a chokehold that lasted several minutes. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
FILE — This undated photo, provided by Mills & Edwards, LLP, in New York, May 12, 2023, shows Jordan Neely, left, with Carolyn Neely, an aunt. Friends, family members and civil rights leaders gathered at a Harlem church, Friday, May 19, 2023, to mourn Jordan Neely, whose chokehold death on the New York City subway set off a debate about vigilantism, homelessness and public safety.(Courtesy Mills & Edwards, LLP via AP, File)
Daniel Penny, center, is walked by New York Police Department detectives detectives out of the 5th Precinct on Friday, May. 12, 2023 in New York. Manhattan prosecutors announced Thursday they would bring the criminal charge against Penny, 24, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, in the May 1 death of 30-year-old Jordan Neely. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)
FILE – People walk past graffiti calling attention to death of Jordan Neely that was painted on the sidewalk at an entrance to Washington Square Park, Friday, May 5, 2023, in New York. Manhattan prosecutors said Thursday, May 11, 2023, that they will bring criminal charges against Daniel Penny, the man who used a deadly chokehold on Neely, an unruly passenger, aboard a New York City subway train. The incident stirred outrage and debates about the response to mental illness in the nation’s largest transit system. (AP Photo/Brooke Lansdale, File)
A group of several hundred people protest the death of Jordan Neely, Friday, May 5, 2023, at Washington Square Park in New York. Neely, a locally-known Michael Jackson impersonator who friends say suffered from worsening mental health, died Monday, May 1, when a fellow rider pulled him to the floor and pinned him with a hold taught in Marine combat training. (AP Photo/Brooke Lansdale)
Protesters march to protest the death of Jordan Neely, Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in New York. Four people were arrested, police said. Neely, a man who was suffering an apparent mental health episode aboard a New York City subway, died this week after being placed in a headlock by a fellow rider on Monday, May 1, according to police officials and video of the encounter. (AP Photo/Jake Offenhartz)
Police officers watch as protesters gather in the Broadway-Lafayette subway station to protest the death of Jordan Neely, Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in New York. Four people were arrested, police said. Neely, a man who was suffering an apparent mental health episode aboard a New York City subway, died this week after being placed in a headlock by a fellow rider on Monday, May 1, according to police officials and video of the encounter. (AP Photo/Jake Offenhartz)
Protesters march through the Broadway-Lafayette subway station to protest the death of Jordan Neely, Wednesday afternoon, May 3, 2023 in New York. Four people were arrested, police said. Neely, a man who was suffering an apparent mental health episode aboard a New York City subway, died this week after being placed in a headlock by a fellow rider on Monday, May 1, according to police officials and video of the encounter. (AP Photo/Jake Offenhartz)
Protesters march through the Manhattan borough of New York on Wednesday afternoon, May 3, 2023, to protest the death of Jordan Neely. Four people were arrested, police said. Neely, a man who was suffering an apparent mental health episode aboard a New York City subway, died this week after being placed in a headlock by a fellow rider on Monday, May 1, according to police officials and video of the encounter. (AP Photo/Jake Offenhartz)
New York police officers respond to the scene where a fight was reported on a subway train, Monday, May 1, 2023, in New York. A man suffering an apparent mental health episode aboard a New York City subway died on Monday after being placed in a headlock by a fellow rider, according to police officials and video of the encounter. Jordan Neely, 30, was shouting and pacing aboard an F train in Manhattan witnesses and police said, when he was taken to the floor by another passenger. (Paul Martinka via AP)
The Rev. Al Sharpton told worshippers that Neely’s life should be celebrated, “but we should not ignore how he died.”
Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy at Harlem’s Mount Neboh Baptist Church, said Neely died “not because of natural causes but because of unnatural policies.”
Sharpton noted that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, called Penny a “good Samaritan” last week and shared a fund-raising link for Penny’s legal defense.
Sharpton said the Biblical parable of the good Samaritan is about coming to the aid of someone in need.
“A good Samaritan helps those in trouble,” Sharpton said. “They don’t choke him out.”
Sharpton added, “What happened to Jordan was a crime and this family shouldn’t have to stand by themselves.”
While Neely had a history of disruptive behavior — he had been arrested many times and pleaded guilty this year to assaulting a stranger — friends and relatives have said they don’t believe he would have harmed anyone if Penny had just left him alone.
Sharpton said Neely was screaming for help.
“People keep criminalizing people that need help,” he said. “They don’t need abuse, they need help.”
Elected officials including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and New York Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado were among the hundreds attending the funeral, which was at the same church where the funeral for Neely’s mother, Christie Neely, was held after she was murdered when Neely was 14.
