Vigilante violence disproportionately harms marginalized communities: Researchers

[LetMyPeopleVote]

The fact that the asshole felt comfortable taking action against a minority is not surprising. Marginalized groups are disproportionately impacted by vigilante efforts, which can manifest in violence and even death

Link to tweet

https://abcnews.go.com/US/vigilante-violence-disproportionately-harms-marginalized-communities-researchers/story?id=99429998

Researchers told ABC News that Neely's death highlights how marginalized groups are disproportionately impacted by vigilante efforts, which can manifest in violence and even death.

"There's a power imbalance that determines who's seen as upholding what's good and what's right … and who's more likely to be seen as violating social norms or doing something that's wrong?" said Regina Bateson, a political scientist and professor at the University of Ottawa, in an interview with ABC News.

"There's a power imbalance that determines who's seen as upholding what's good and what's right … and who's more likely to be seen as violating social norms or doing something that's wrong?" said Regina Bateson, a political scientist and professor at the University of Ottawa, in an interview with ABC News....

"There's an alarming amount of violence associated with vigilantism," said Bateson. "It's really important to emphasize that vigilantism is a human rights problem. Vigilantes are violating the rights of their targets. There's no proportionality in vigilantism. It's very common that the punishment doesn't fit the crime."

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. The right-wing movement surrounding Daniel Penny is barbaric

The RWNJs are supporting this asshole

Link to tweet

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley on Tuesday called on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to pardon Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran charged with second-degree manslaughter for killing Jordan Neely, a mentally ill man, on the New York City subway with a chokehold in April. .....

Shocking as that rationale sounds, Haley’s position isn’t an outlier. There’s a growing movement of right-wing politicians, activists and pundits staking out an extreme position in ardent support of Penny. They don’t just defend his actions but glorify them as heroic. They don't see tragedy in the needless death of Neely, but a potentially exciting model for dealing with social problems.....

Haley isn’t the only 2024 contender who has signaled support for Penny. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted a link to a crowdfunding page set up by Penny’s lawyers, wrote that it’s imperative to “take back the streets for law abiding citizens” and called for support to show him that “America’s got his back.” Former biotech executive Vivek Ramaswamy sent $10,000 to the fundraiser, which has raised over $2.5 million. (Donors to that fundraiser have left comments like “No tears for the [man] who died….” and “take back our country from these villains bent on destroying our nation.”) Former President Donald Trump said that he didn’t want to make a “definitive statement” but that “I think he [Penny] was in danger,” adding: “And it sounded like the other people in the car were in danger. And it also looks like this man [who was killed] was arrested over 40 times and had lots of problems.”

The list of right-wing VIPs celebrating Penny goes on and on. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., deemed him a “Subway Superman.” Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., called him a “hero.” One America News asked readers whether Penny should be honored. This isn’t just about the MAGA corners of the right: The Wall Street Journal ran an editorial defending Penny as “the Subway Samaritan.” Twitter CEO Elon Musk liked a tweet calling Neely, the victim, “worthless,” as well as a tweet poll circulating on the right asking whether Neely was murdered or “had it coming” (the overwhelming majority believed the latter). ....

One can’t help but note the pro-Penny movement’s selective attitude toward the law. Many of its members think that it’s an injustice that Penny is being subjected to legal scrutiny for killing a man. But they think that emboldening people like him to act as citizen cops — and administer force brutally and with impunity — is the best way to keep America lawful. In other words, this isn’t about law. It’s strongman politics, one act of domination at a time.