Protesters Demand Justice as Daniel Penny Murder Trial Begins
On May 1 of last year, Jordan Neely, a beloved street performer, boarded a northbound F train at the Second Avenue subway station. After the train doors closed, Neely cried out to his fellow passengers, expressing that he had neither food nor water. In Neely’s moment of distress, ex-Marine Daniel Penny jumped on Neely and put him in a chokehold, killing him.
It took a wave of furious protests over Neely’s killing and stark video evidence of Penny slowly squeezing the life out of Neely for the police to finally arrest Penny and for prosecutors to finally charge him. As jury selection began on Monday, the December 12th Movement rallied and held a press conference outside the New York Criminal Court to demand that Penny be brought to justice — and that Neely’s senseless death not be forgotten or swept under the rug by a criminal-justice system that so often fails Black people.
Protesters Demand Justice for Jordan Neely as Daniel Penny Murder Trial Begins
By Adrita Talukder
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In our August edition, Nicholas Powers called for Kamala Harris to embrace a left-leaning populist economic message that would speak to the needs and concerns of a disenchanted multi-racial working class. Instead Harris has leaned into a small ball neoliberal “opportunity agenda” with promises like providing new tax credits for small business owners. And in her latest piece for The Indypendent, radical economist Paddy Quick breaks down the many ways this is a misguided and futile approach to economic inequality. She also recommends a different path: raising workers’ wages by increasing the minimum wage.
Harris’ Path to Victory Requires a Message That Speaks to the Concerns of America’s Multi-Racial Working Class
By Nicholas Powers
Why Kamala Harris’ Promise to Aid Small Businesses Rings Hollow
By Paddy Quick
While Harris’s lackluster, pro-war campaign struggles to outpace the most absurd major party presidential candidate in U.S. history, a pair of recent book reviews by Eleanor J. Bader remind us how dangerous and determined the far-right movements around Trump are.
Book Review: The Far Right’s 70-Year Crusade to Extinguish Public Education
Book Review: Power-Hungry Christian Nationalists Continue to Scale the Commanding Heights of American Society
This election cycle will soon be over, and we’ll all need a moment to exhale, make sense of the result and contemplate where things go next. On Thursday, Nov. 7, from 8–9:30, The Indypendent will host a post-election town hall on Zoom. Hear post-election reflections from Indy Editors John Tarleton, Amba Guerguerian, Nicholas Powers and Ariana Orozco as well as other special guests who will be joining us. We will also take audience questions and comments.
To sign up, go to our Eventbrite page. There’s no admission, but if you would like to make a donation, we welcome the support.
Indy Radio Update
Ariana Orozco solo hosted yesterday’s Indypendent News Hour on WBAI-99.5 FM and streaming on wbai.org. Click here to listen to yesterday's show.
Next Monday, Ariana Orozco and John Tarleton will cohost a special two-hour Monday edition of The Indypendent News Hour from 5–7 pm. And on Tuesday, Amba Guerguerian will host our regular Tuesday evening show from 5–6 pm. Stay tuned for more info about the guests who will be joining us on both days.
Broadway Parade
And finally, congratulations to the New York Liberty. On Sunday, they clinched their first WNBA championship. This Thursday at 10 a.m. they will enjoy a ticker-tape parade in the Canyon of Heroes at the tip of Manhattan before arriving at City Hall. Earlier this summer, we wrote about the team, its heavily LGBTQ+ fanbase and the rapid changes overtaking the WNBA.
The WNBA is Experiencing a Surge in Popularity… but Does its Fanbase Want It?
By John Tarleton & Ariana Orozco
