Rantz: Daniel Penny verdict is a victory for justice, but a warning to Seattle

Daniel Penny was acquitted in the death of a violent, mentally ill homeless man who threatened to kill passengers on a subway car. It was inevitable but it shouldn’t have been in front of a judge and jury to begin with.

Penny, a former Marine, faced manslaughter charges for the death of Jordan Neely after the confrontation on a New York subway in May. Neely, a mentally ill homeless man with over 40 prior arrests, was reportedly threatening passengers when Penny stepped in, restraining him in a chokehold. The NYPD Officers who initially interviewed Penny, declined to arrest him because no crime occurred. This was a clear and obvious act of self defense.

But despite evidence proving Penny acted to protect others, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg—a favorite of the Radical Left for his soft-on-crime policies—pursued charges that were more about political optics than public safety. Penny is white and Neely was black, giving enough ammunition to bad faith actors to claim this to be an example of white supremacy in action.

While the acquittal is a verdict for justice, the implications of his trial could interfere with individuals’ willingness to act heroically. The message from the Radical Left and politically motivated prosecutors is clear: if you intervene in a dangerous situation, you risk becoming their next target. This isn’t justice—it’s ideological warfare.

Jason Rantz Exclusive: City of Edmonds may close police department; officers are livid, public in the dark

Daniel Penny verdict: not guilty

The jury, after hearing compelling testimony and reviewing the evidence, came to the only conclusion it could: not guilty.

Penny acted out of necessity, not malice. He didn’t wake up that morning intending to take a life; he simply found himself in a situation where action was required, and he heroically took it. This was never a case of manslaughter—it was a case of a good Samaritan being demonized by a small group of vocal extremists for doing the right thing. And he’s still being attacked.

“We need some black vigilantes. People wanna jump up and choke us and kill us for being loud? How about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us,” Walter ‘Hawk’ Newsome, a Black Lives Matter leader and radical, said after the verdict.

It doesn’t matter that Newsome’s characterization of what happened is intentionally ignorant. It’s that he feels comfortable speaking like this in a city that felt comfortable charging Penny that should worry us all.

More from Jason Rantz: Year-end Seattle Police staffing is dire, but union warns of new looming crisis

Daniel Penny charges, regardless of verdict, means fewer heroes

Despite the jury’s verdict, the chilling effect of this trial cannot be ignored.

The next time someone witnesses a violent or threatening act, will they step in? Or will they hesitate, fearing the possibility of legal retribution or being labeled a racist?

Here in Seattle, the stakes are even higher. King County Metro buses and Sound Transit light rail systems are can be breeding grounds for criminal behavior, thanks to the city’s permissive policies toward the homeless population and rampant drug use. The potential for a mentally ill homeless man or woman to pose a legitimate threat is real.

How many times have we seen stories of assaults, harassment, and even stabbings on public transportation? It’s not hard to imagine a similar situation unfolding here—a would-be hero stepping in to protect others and then being vilified by the Radical Left for daring to act.

More from Jason Rantz: Already stretched thin, Tacoma firefighters warn city that budget cuts could cost lives

Predictable response

The Left’s response to Penny’s trial was predictable and disgusting.

Activists and their allies in the media painted him as a symbol of white supremacy, claiming his actions were rooted in racism. Never mind that witnesses, including people of color, supported Penny’s version of events. Facts don’t matter to the mob; only the narrative does.

This divisive rhetoric is precisely what discourages people from stepping up in moments of crisis. This rhetoric can push left-wing prosecutors into pursuing charges.

It’s not enough for the Radical Left to disagree with your actions—they have to destroy your character, too. They’ll comb through your social media, drag your name through the mud, and turn you into a political pawn, all while conveniently ignoring the crime and chaos that necessitated your intervention in the first place.

More from Jason Rantz: As judges change tune, AG Ferguson sued for cruel COVID-19 vaccine mandate firings

Daniel Penny trial and verdict should be a wake up call in Seattle

For cities like Seattle, this trial should be a wake-up call. Public safety isn’t just about police presence—it’s about empowering citizens to act when danger arises.

But that empowerment is meaningless if people fear they’ll be punished for doing the right thing. What happens when someone decides it’s safer to look the other way? What happens when our collective apathy allows the chaos to win? People die.

Daniel Penny didn’t seek out a confrontation, but when one found him, he acted with courage. The jury saw that the same way the police and American people saw it. The question now is whether we’ll allow the Radical Left and their enablers to use this case to sow further division and fear.

The next time someone faces a dangerous situation on a subway, a bus, or even a street corner, will they act—or will they remember what happened to Daniel Penny and decide it’s not worth the risk? For our sake, let’s hope they choose courage. But for that to happen, we need to send a clear message: standing up to protect others is not a crime—it’s a virtue. Daniel Penny is the hero we needed.

Listen to The Jason Rantz Show on weekday afternoons from 3-7 p.m. on KTTH 770 AM (HD Radio 97.3 FM HD-Channel 3). Subscribe to the podcast here. Follow Jason Rantz on X, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook.

Follow @https://twitter.com/jasonrantz