Democratic Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the charges against Daniel Penny on June 28, 2023. Penny faced as many as 15 years behind bars. The veteran and architecture student pleaded not guilty. 

BREAKING: Jordan Neely’s father says system is ‘rigged’, BLM leader calls for ‘black vigilante’ action as protests erupt after Daniel Penny not guilty verdict

“What we preach is unity, black unity. Stop begging this system to justify our lives,” Newsome said. Stop begging this system for justice. When things happen to you, you step up and defend yourself. Just like everybody else seeks justice on their own, just like everybody else has vigilantes, we need some black vigilantes. People want to jump up and choke us, and kill us for being loud? How about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us.”