While it is possible that the guilty verdict handed down by the jury was a mistake, Carlson, Rittenhouse, and Abbott did not attempt to argue the case on its merits. Instead, they made the assumption that any violence against a left-wing protester was automatically justified. Perry fulfilled the right-wing’s fantasy of using lethal violence in the name of “order,” doing no wrong in their opinion.
Leading conservatives have taken a similar view on the case of Daniel Penny, the assailant in the killing of Jordan Neely, a homeless man, in a New York City subway car this month. Witnesses testified that Neely had not attacked anyone but was acting erratically and hostile towards fellow passengers. Penny, a former Marine, used a chokehold on Neely, killing him. Two other passengers held Neely down as he struggled on the floor. Penny is now charged with second-degree manslaughter.
We do not yet know why Penny confronted Neely on the subway, but that did not stop conservatives from glorifying Penny in the same way they did Perry and Rittenhouse. A congresswoman, Greene, referred to Penny as “a hero” who saved others, while Fox News host Greg Gutfeld accused the decision to charge Penny of being pro-criminal and anti-hero.
An online fundraiser for Penny’s legal defense has amassed over $2 million, a testament to conservative excitement for Penny. DeSantis, who is aiming for the Republican presidential nomination, also publicly showed support for Penny, stating, “We must defeat the Soros-Funded DAs, stop the Left’s pro-criminal agenda, and take back the streets for law-abiding citizens… We stand with Good Samaritans like Daniel Penny. Let’s show this Marine… America’s got his back.”
The rhetoric used by conservative supporters of Rittenhouse, Perry, and Penny is identical: the same language, ideas, and tropes. One could be forgiven for not realizing that real people were involved in these violent confrontations, and that these individuals were entitled to protection under the law and a full investigation into the circumstances of their deaths, with legal liability for the men who killed them if that is what the jury finds.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Nationwide-Recall-nov-2024-09a5ba8d54084403b672c4af1d94d6b0.jpg "National Recollects on Floor Pork, Carrots and Extra to Be Acutely aware of Proper Now")
