A crowdfunding campaign in favour of the man charged in the chokehold death&nbsp;of a homeless person in New York has garnered more than $1.6 million on a platform notorious for enabling fundraising of far-right people.&nbsp;

The death&nbsp;earlier this month of Jordan Neely, a Michael Jackson lookalike who frequently appeared on the tube, drew anger because it was recorded on tape.

Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old US Marine veteran, was charged with manslaughter in the second degree and freed on bond. The accusation charges&nbsp;Penny of "recklessly" causing&nbsp;the death of 30-year-old Neely, but it falls short of charging him with homicide, reported AFP.

The law firm Raiser &amp; Kenniff, P.C., which represents Penny, put up the online fund to help him.

It's accessible on GiveSendGo, a crowdfunding platform that describes itself as "The #1 Free Christian Fundraising Site." GiveSendGo has gained notoriety for accepting campaigns that other crowdfunding platforms have terminated for breaking their terms of service, notably those operated by alt-right and white nationalist organisations.

Conservative Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has not officially declared a presidential run but is widely expected to do so, defended Penny on social media, urging people to "stop the Left's pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law-abiding citizens."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-eyes-papua-new-guineas-airports-ports-in-defence-pact-to-be-signed-during-bidens-trip-592306">US eyes Papua New Guinea's airports, ports in defence pact to be signed during Biden’s trip</a>

Neely's killing on May 1 angered activists and many MPs, leading many rallies asking for Penny's arrest.

The video shows Neely on the ground of a tube train as Penny holds him around the neck for several&nbsp;minutes in front of a few witnesses.

According to witnesses, Penny allegedly restrained Neely after the latter screamed at passengers for food and drink and stated he was prepared to die.

According to reports, Neely did not physically threaten anyone.

Family and acquaintances informed local media that he had a history of mental illness, as do many of the city's over nine million citizens who live on the streets.

<h2 id="Who-was-Jordan-Neely" tabindex="-1">Who was Jordan Neely?</h2>

Dan Neely was a Michael Jackson impersonator who regularly&nbsp;performed&nbsp;in Times Square in New York.

According to US media, he had 42 previous arrests on offences such as avoiding fares, theft, and attacks on three women, reported the BBC.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;US Marine veteran surrenders to police over fatal choking of NY homeless man

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In 2021, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a 67-year-old lady exiting a tube station.

Christie Neely, his mother, was strangled to death by her boyfriend in 2007, who was sentenced to 30 years in jail in 2012.

According to family relatives, Neely began suffering mental health concerns after his mother died.

"Jordan deserves justice. He was loved," his aunt Carolyn Neely told the BBC.

Dante Mills, a lawyer representing the Neely family, has accused&nbsp;Penny of acting as a vigilante.&nbsp;Neely, according to his counsel, never injured any passengers on the day he was killed.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A crowdfunding campaign in favour of the man charged in the chokehold death of a homeless person in New York has garnered more than $1.6 million on a platform notorious for enabling fundraising of far-right people.

A crowdfunding campaign in favour of the man charged in the chokehold death of a homeless person in New York has garnered more than $1.6 million on a platform notorious for enabling fundraising of far-right people. The death earlier this month of Jordan Neely, a Michael Jackson lookalike who frequently appeared on the tube, drew anger because it was recorded on tape. Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old US Marine veteran, was charged with manslaughter in the second degree and freed on bond. The accusation charges Penny of "recklessly" causing the death of 30-year-old Neely, but it falls short of charging him with homicide, reported AFP. The law firm Raiser & Kenniff, P.C., which represents Penny, put up the online fund to help him. It's accessible on GiveSendGo, a crowdfunding platform that describes itself as "The #1 Free Christian Fundraising Site." GiveSendGo has gained notoriety for accepting campaigns that other crowdfunding platforms have terminated for breaking their terms of service, notably those operated by alt-right and white nationalist organisations. Conservative Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has not officially declared a presidential run but is widely expected to do so, defended Penny on social media, urging people to "stop the Left's pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law-abiding citizens." ALSO READ | US eyes Papua New Guinea's airports, ports in defence pact to be signed during Biden’s trip Neely's killing on May 1 angered activists and many MPs, leading many rallies asking for Penny's arrest. The video shows Neely on the ground of a tube train as Penny holds him around the neck for several minutes in front of a few witnesses. According to witnesses, Penny allegedly restrained Neely after the latter screamed at passengers for food and drink and stated he was prepared to die. According to reports, Neely did not physically threaten anyone. Family and acquaintances informed local media that he had a history of mental illness, as do many of the city's over nine million citizens who live on the streets. Who was Jordan Neely? Dan Neely was a Michael Jackson impersonator who regularly performed in Times Square in New York. According to US media, he had 42 previous arrests on offences such as avoiding fares, theft, and attacks on three women, reported the BBC. ALSO WATCH | US Marine veteran surrenders to police over fatal choking of NY homeless man In 2021, he pleaded guilty to assaulting a 67-year-old lady exiting a tube station. Christie Neely, his mother, was strangled to death by her boyfriend in 2007, who was sentenced to 30 years in jail in 2012. According to family relatives, Neely began suffering mental health concerns after his mother died. "Jordan deserves justice. He was loved," his aunt Carolyn Neely told the BBC. Dante Mills, a lawyer representing the Neely family, has accused Penny of acting as a vigilante. Neely, according to his counsel, never injured any passengers on the day he was killed. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

New York chokehold death: Legal fund for ex-Marine Daniel Penny crosses $1.6 million

The family of Jordan Neely, 30, a homeless New York man who was reportedly killed by a former US Marine Corps veteran in a chokehold, has come out to condemn the actions that led to Neely's killing.

The former US Marine Corps veteran has been identified as Daniel Penny.&nbsp;

Neely, while being homeless,&nbsp;identified as a "big time" Michael Jackson fan and had amassed a following within New York City and beyond.

In a statement released on Monday morning, Neely's family said that a statement issued last week by the attorney representing Daniel Penny amounts to an "admission of guilt," and that "his actions on the train, and now his words, show why he needs to be in prison."

The statement by Penny's attorney said he "never intended to harm Mr. Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death."

Penny was questioned by police and released the same day, and has not been criminally charged, CBS News reported.

The case is expected to go before a grand jury this week to determine whether or not to bring criminal charges

Protests have erupted in parts of Europe in which demonstrators have called for justice for Neely.

"Daniel Penny's press release is not an apology nor an expression of regret. It is a character assassination, and a clear example of why he believed he was entitled to take Jordan's life," the Neely family said in Monday's statement. "In the first paragraph he talks about how 'good' he is and the next paragraph he talks about how 'bad' Jordan was in an effort to convince us Jordan's life was 'worthless.' The truth is, he knew nothing about Jordans history when he intentionally wrapped his arms around Jordan's neck, and squeezed and kept squeezing."

The&nbsp;video footage of the incident shows Penny lying on the floor beneath Neely with both arms wrapped around his neck.

Penny, who is 24, claimed he acted to restrain the man who was behaving erratically, according to witnesses and Penny's lawyer.

The chockehold has been characterised as "a tragic incident on the NYC subway, which ended in the death of Jordan Neely."

His family said Monday that Penny's actions on the train and the subsequent press release spoke to his "indifference" toward Neely's life and "show why he needs to be in prison."

"In the last paragraph, Daniel Penny suggests that the general public has shown 'indifference' for people like Jordan, but that term is more appropriately used to describe himself. It is clear he is the one who acted with indifference, both at the time he killed Jordan and now in his first public message," they said in the statement. "He never attempted to help him at all. In short, his actions on the train, and now his words, show why he needs to be in prison."

The statement from Neely's family concluded with a request to New York City Mayor Eric Adams to "please give us a call."

"The family wants you to know that Jordan matters," it said. "You seem to think others are more important than him. You cannot 'assist' someone with a chokehold."

(With inputs from agencies)

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The family of Jordan Neely, 30, a homeless New York man who was reportedly killed by a former US Marine Corps veteran in a chokehold, has come out to condemn the actions that led to Neely's killing.

The family of Jordan Neely, 30, a homeless New York man who was reportedly killed by a former US Marine Corps veteran in a chokehold, has come out to condemn the actions that led to Neely's killing. The former US Marine Corps veteran has been identified as Daniel Penny. Neely, while being homeless, identified as a "big time" Michael Jackson fan and had amassed a following within New York City and beyond. In a statement released on Monday morning, Neely's family said that a statement issued last week by the attorney representing Daniel Penny amounts to an "admission of guilt," and that "his actions on the train, and now his words, show why he needs to be in prison." The statement by Penny's attorney said he "never intended to harm Mr. Neely and could not have foreseen his untimely death." Penny was questioned by police and released the same day, and has not been criminally charged, CBS News reported. The case is expected to go before a grand jury this week to determine whether or not to bring criminal charges Protests have erupted in parts of Europe in which demonstrators have called for justice for Neely. "Daniel Penny's press release is not an apology nor an expression of regret. It is a character assassination, and a clear example of why he believed he was entitled to take Jordan's life," the Neely family said in Monday's statement. "In the first paragraph he talks about how 'good' he is and the next paragraph he talks about how 'bad' Jordan was in an effort to convince us Jordan's life was 'worthless.' The truth is, he knew nothing about Jordans history when he intentionally wrapped his arms around Jordan's neck, and squeezed and kept squeezing." The video footage of the incident shows Penny lying on the floor beneath Neely with both arms wrapped around his neck. Penny, who is 24, claimed he acted to restrain the man who was behaving erratically, according to witnesses and Penny's lawyer. The chockehold has been characterised as "a tragic incident on the NYC subway, which ended in the death of Jordan Neely." His family said Monday that Penny's actions on the train and the subsequent press release spoke to his "indifference" toward Neely's life and "show why he needs to be in prison." "In the last paragraph, Daniel Penny suggests that the general public has shown 'indifference' for people like Jordan, but that term is more appropriately used to describe himself. It is clear he is the one who acted with indifference, both at the time he killed Jordan and now in his first public message," they said in the statement. "He never attempted to help him at all. In short, his actions on the train, and now his words, show why he needs to be in prison." The statement from Neely's family concluded with a request to New York City Mayor Eric Adams to "please give us a call." "The family wants you to know that Jordan matters," it said. "You seem to think others are more important than him. You cannot 'assist' someone with a chokehold." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Jordan Neely killing: Family seeks justice as police yet to file criminal charges

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New York chokehold death: Legal fund for ex-Marine Daniel Penny crosses $1.6 million

Jordan Neely killing: Family seeks justice as police yet to file criminal charges