On Thursday morning, ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s Today joined the leftist parade to make a new George Floyd in Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old New York City homeless man who had been arrested more than 40 times (and yet was still on the street) and died Monday following a confrontation with passengers after witnesses say he was harassing them.
Since the incident came to light, Democrats (including Squad members) have accused the man who placed Neely in a chokehold of murder and having committed a 21st century lynching (since the man wasn’t black and Neely was) and New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) claiming Neely was “killed for being a passenger.”
No word on what these lefties would like it if they were harassed and threatened without their security details on public transit.
Today co-host Hoda Kotb teased:
Growing controversy. A death of a man put in a chokehold by a former marine after he allegedly threatened passengers on a New York City subway now declared a homicide. An investigation underway as anger and protests erupt...Was it a case of vigilante justice or an act of bravery? We’ll have the very latest.
Later, NBC correspondent Stephanie Gosk had the story, boasting “scrutiny has continued to grow as this video circulated” ahead of Wednesday’s declaration that “Neely’s death was ruled a homicide.”
“This morning, there is growing outrage and questions surrounding the death of a man on a New York City subway,” she explained.
Gosk downplayed Neely’s behavior, suggesting he was only delivering “a somewhat aggressive speech”. She also made no attempt to highlight how Neely reportedly made passengers feel uncomfortable or his lengthy criminal record. Instead, she poured on fluff as though he were an innocent New York City celebrity (click “expand”):
GOSK: Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine writing that Neely was a subway entertainer who performed dance routines in costume as Michael Jackson. Levine adding, “he always made people smile. Our broken male system failed him. He deserved help, not to die in a chokehold on the floor of the subway.” Police say the 24-year-old rider who put Neely into the chokehold was taken into custody for questioning and later released. He has not been publicly identified. Protesters gathered overnight to call for more action.
PROTESTERS: What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!
GOSK: No charges have been filed, but the Manhattan district attorney’s office said it is under investigation and it is “a solemn and serious matter.” The D.A.’s office also said the investigation is being handled by, “senior, experienced prosecutors” and encouraged any witnesses to come forward.
ABC’s Good Morning America had way more salient facts, but nonetheless touted the so-called outrage. Co-host and former Clinton official George Stephanopoulos had a click bait-y tease: “Deadly subway chokehold. What happened inside a New York subway car that led to a man’s death. The protest and the fallout this morning.”
After co-host Robin Roberts offered the loaded summary of there being “fallout after a man was killed in a chokehold by a bystander in a New York City subway car,” weekend GMA co-host Whit Johnson hyped that “[t]his case is already getting strong reaction on all sides” before conceding “New York City has had a number of alarming incidents recently on the subway.”
“But this time, when a passenger decided to take matters into his own hands, it resulted in a man’s death,” he added.
Unlike NBC, Johnson explained “witnesses say Jordan Neely...was shouting and threatening passengers” before the “24-year-old Marine veteran jump[ed] in, placing Neely in a chokehold.”
Following a soundbite of a protester claiming people have mistakenly fallen for a “narrative that homeless people are dangerous,” Johnson cited how Neely was both “recognizable” and a career criminal (click “expand”):
Some protesters gathering Wednesday calling for an arrest. The man who pinned Neely down was questioned and then released, telling investigators he was trying to help his fellow passengers who felt scared and threatened. Neely is recognizable to some in New York City as a Michael Jackson impersonator who frequently danced in Times Square. Records show he had been arrested more than 40 times on the subway. Mayor Eric Adams urging patience as the DA investigates.
(....)
Now, authorities say in addition to his dozens of prior arrests, Neely also had a documented history of mental health-related issues. The Coalition for the Homeless called this a complete travesty and said this is another failure of providing critical mental health services to the homeless population.
The great Matt Walsh of the Daily Wire called out Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in particular and wondered if she could name the 11 people “murdered on the NYC subway last year.”
Twitter’s Community Notes sprang into action on AOC’s colleague Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) as she tweeted video of Neely dressed like Jackson on a subway.
In the note, it explained “[t]his is a 2012 video of Jordan Neely, not conduct that led to his death” and, as for the incident in which he died, “it was in response to aggressive, threatening behavior” and came as police had “an active felony assault warrant out” for him.
ABC and NBC playing into the left’s latest race-hustling campaign was made possible thanks to advertisers such as Carmax (on ABC) and Liberty Mutual (on NBC). Follow the links to see their contact information at the MRC’s Conservative Fight Back page.
To see the relevant transcripts from May 4, click here (for ABC) and here (for NBC).
