…put out horrible vibes, but they needn’t be killed because they’re unruly and threatening and scaring fellow riders. I’ve been in the presence of some crazy belligerent fucks in my time on the NYC subways, and so I know what it feels like to be a little bit concerned about one’s own safety and whatnot.
Jordan Neely, a Michael Jackson impersonator fallen upon hard mental times, reportedly had more than 40 prior arrests as well as an outstanding 2021 assault charge warrant. I therefore think it’s okay if this or that crazy guy is physically prevented from terrorizing others or is shown tough discipline in a way that says “this shit stops now.”
But choking a guy to death is Eric Garner territory…it’s in the general vicinity of George Floyd …it’s almost (but not quite) Bernard Goetz territory. And that’s why Monday’s choke-killing of Neely by a 24-year-old ex-Marine has become a big thing and will probably blow up ever further. Restraint, not suffocation.
