Part 5/8:
One pivotal theme throughout the interview is the perceived racial dynamic that colored the case. The death of Jordan Neely, a Black man, raised complex questions about race relations in America, particularly regarding who is deemed a "victim" and who is portrayed as a "perpetrator." Judge Den argued that the rhetoric employed by the prosecution—a focus on Penny as a "white man" in a racially charged situation—was misleading. This narrative obscures the diverse makeup of the subway car’s occupants and the fact that multiple individuals, regardless of race, contributed to subduing Neely during the confrontation.