The Murder of Jordan Neely
His good deeds, his bad deeds—none of it matters, because he didn’t deserve to die.
I can’t stop thinking about the murder of Jordan Neely.
A man was killed on the train because he was hungry, tired, poor and black. An entire train of people watched it happen. The media response in the first few days protected the identity of the young, white, ex-marine killer (who unsurprisingly made bail today before surrendering) and included facts about Neely that either framed him in a patronizingly sympathetic light or suggested his potential past offenses made it less egregious that he was killed in this horrific fashion. His good deeds, his bad deeds—none of it matters, because he didn’t deserve to die. The killer did not know anything about him when he strangled him to death.
National media, not to mention top ranking city officials, paint the subway as a war zone, drumming up fear, paranoia, and violence towards our most vulnerable neighbors. Public transportation is rendered as a site of lawlessness, of absolute chaos, of daily atrocities. This backdrop of fear lends credence to vigilante “justice,” i.e. murder, as somehow protective. Who does this protect? From whom do we really need protection, in a situation like this? The guy being momentarily disruptive or the guy primed to kill another in broad daylight?
Perhaps more than other places, the subway is a zone where desperation bubbles up, where people plead for help. It is devastating, not because it is a hindrance, but because it so clearly depicts need. The close confines of the underground is undoubtedly a place where crisis occurs, but the crisis is not the unhoused people nor their behavior, but the very fact they are unhoused: the structures which have failed to feed, house, and care for those most in need.
The outcome of the trial will not address the root of the problems, just as increased police presence on the subways does not make it safer, but in fact makes it much more dangerous for many. Both the trial and increased policing fail to address the systemic problems, like homelessness, poverty, mental illness, which undergird the apparent crime of being poor and unhoused in public.
I don’t really know what to say and am not sure I’ve said what I wanted to say especially well. But I know it can feel pointless, hopeless, to envision a better world, especially after such tragedy lays bare the state of things. But to lose hope seems blasphemous too—a better world is possible. We must remind each other of this and work to make it so.
Related:
Good news: CUNY Students Boo Eric Adams
https://twitter.com/C_Sommerfeldt/status/1657077726849687567
Links:
The surgeon general should stop telling people to fight the loneliness crisis on their own
These Unions Are on the Front Lines Fighting Against the Uberization of Us All
Good news pt. 2:
Admittedly I haven’t really listened to Janelle Monáe since her first album, which was so so weird and cool and good. She’s been busy being a multi-hyphenate and acting and being a fashion icon etc etc etc! But wow, her first album in five years promises to be HOT AS HELL and SHE IS HOT AS HELL and wow. Watch this video! Go check out the album images! Wow! Tittie! Love this for all of us.
Above, please enjoy the “fish eating sausages” section. And below… “VC Cloud Championships - Vape Summit - Men’s Cloud.” Laughing out loud at how this is edited please don’t ask me why I was looking up AND watching “vape competition” everything is fine. Please listen to the vape king list all his sponsors.
I’d like to thank team cloud zombies along with team thundercloud, lex liquid, royal, vapor dye.
My dog with some whipped cream on her face:
BONUS cherry blossom:
With love + hope for a better future
Shelby + Clem