Fact check: BLM lost their shit over the Daniel Penny verdict.

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results:

The statement is factually accurate but oversimplified. BLM leaders, specifically Hank Newsome and Chivona Renée Newsome, did respond strongly to Daniel Penny's acquittal, with Hank Newsome calling for "Black vigilantes" and making inflammatory statements including "f**k America." Protesters demonstrated outside the courthouse, chanting "no peace without justice" and referring to Penny as the "subway strangler."

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:

The original statement omits crucial context about the case itself:

• Jordan Neely had 44 prior arrests and documented mental health issues (schizophrenia)
• Witnesses testified that Neely was making threats on the subway before the incident
• The case sparked a broader debate about vigilantism, mental health care, and homelessness in NYC
• Penny's supporters viewed his actions as protecting other passengers
• Neely's family has filed a civil lawsuit, separate from the criminal case

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement:

The statement's casual phrasing ("lost their shit") reduces a complex situation to inflammatory language and:

• Presents BLM as a monolithic organization, when reactions came specifically from NY chapter leaders
• Ignores the broader social justice debate about use of force against mentally ill individuals
• Fails to acknowledge that different groups had financial/influence stakes in the outcome:

BLM leaders benefit from maintaining public attention on racial justice issues

Conservative media benefits from portraying BLM reactions as extreme

• Legal teams on both sides benefit from continued civil proceedings