CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org 

VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO THE MURDER OF JORDAN NEELY

Media Narratives Dehumanizing People Who Are Homeless and in Crisis — Spurred by Mayor Adams and Gov. Hochul — are Equally Responsible for the Vigilantism that Ended Neely’s Life

NEW YORK — In response to Jordan Neely’s murder, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Jawanza Williams, Director of Organizing at VOCAL-NY:

“We are living in a state where a Mayor and Governor successfully campaigned to keep poor people in jails, flooded our subways with cops, and a white man can kill a Black man and be released without charge. The murder of Jordan Neely is a direct result of the sustained political, systemic abandonment and dehumanization of people experiencing homelessness and mental health complexities, fueled by press coverage that clearly influences policies and emboldens vigilantes.

People have been deputized by Mayor Adams’ and Governor Hochul’s hyper-conservative, fear-mongering rhetoric and now a man has been lynched. Neely’s blood is on their hands, and any semblance of justice here requires accountability and a reversal of Adams’ austerity budget and Hochul to stop blocking progressive policy in Albany.”

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