Liberals rage after Daniel Penny acquitted in NYC subway chokehold case

A Manhattan jury found Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide, a charge which carried a four-year maximum sentence. The more serious charge of second degree manslaughter, which carried a maximum 15-year sentence, was dismissed last week by Judge Maxwell Wiley, after jurors twice told the court they were deadlocked on the issue. 

The high-profile case sparked debate about public safety, mental illness and homelessness on NYC's subway system. Penny's defense argued he was protecting others on the subway who were threatened by Neely's outburst, and prosecutors argued that Penny acted with too much force and his actions led to Neely's death.

Liberal commentators reacted to the jury's verdict on Monday by suggesting racism and bias against the homeless and the poor influenced the jury's decision.

"Jordan Neely deserved better than the violence of being denied access to stable housing and health care, and then dehumanized for it. Jordan Neely deserved better than the systems that allow for, and justify, extrajudicial white supremacist violence against Black people," she added.

Black Lives Matter activists in New York previously threatened to protest if Penny was acquitted.

"People want to jump up and choke us and kill us for being loud? How about we do the same when they attempt to oppress us?" he added.

Fox News' Michael Ruiz, CB Cotton and Grace Taggart contributed to this report.