CONSERVATIVE PARTY NEWS RELEASE
Issued Jointly by the County Organizations in the City of New York
17 May 2023 / For Immediate Release
Contact: Frances T. Vella-Marrone, Tel. (347) 866-4945

CONSERVATIVE PARTY STANDS FOR PRINCIPLE THAT “SELF-DEFENSE IS NOT A CRIME” IN OPPOSING THE MALICIOUS PROSECUTION OF DANIEL PENNY

The county organizations of the Conservative Party in the City of New York jointly and unequivocally oppose the malicious prosecution of Daniel Penny, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, who is being charged with manslaughter by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office for his heroic act of bravery in defending himself and fellow subway riders from a mentally-ill person causing mayhem.

“Self defense and coming to the aid of others should never be a crime,” stated Kings County Chairwoman Frances T. Vella-Marrone.  “Riding the subway and walking the streets of New York City have become dangerous activities. Daniel Penny took the risk to intervene and should not be punished. He along with his fellow New Yorkers are victims of failed soft on crime policies.”

“While D.A. Bragg’s soft on crime policies increase the likelihood that New Yorkers will be forced to defend themselves, he seems to actively be seeking to criminalize the right of each of us to do so,” stated Bronx County Chairman Patrick McManus.  “Daniel Penny should never have been put in a position where he had to take action, whereas jail may not have been the right place to put Jacob Neely, repeatedly unleashing this violent mentally ill individual back into society only served to endanger him as well as all of us. When our government fails to protect us we have the RIGHT to defend ourselves.”

“New York City residents and visitors should never have to fear if their safety is at risk,” stated New York County Chairman John M. Seravalli. “Unfortunately, pro-criminal policies perpetrated by rogue prosecutor D.A. Bragg and the New York City Council democratic majority leave far too many wondering if taking action into their own hands is the only way. The City of New York failed Jordan Neely and now looks to punish Daniel Penny in a disgraceful attempt to cover their tracks. It is not Marine Corp veterans like Mr. Penny that subway riders fear, it is the bad policies and total disregard of personal accountability that place us all at risk.”

“Daniel Penny is a good Samaritan who placed his own personal safety at risk to defend himself and his fellow New Yorkers with courageous action,” stated Richmond County Chairman David Mario Curcio.  “He deserves better than to be maliciously prosecuted by a hack politician who routinely endangers the public safety in his jurisdiction with complete and total incompetence.”

New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar has issued the following statement:  “A basic American principle is that ‘self-defense is not a crime’.  New Yorkers who ride the subways or walk the streets anytime after dark clearly know that New York City has become a place in which you need to regularly look over your shoulder. Trapped on a subway car with a highly erratic individual aggressively approaching ‘strap hangers’ requires men and women like Daniel Penny willing to intervene. Now the second guessing begins from a liberal establishment ‘hell bent’ on changing the way New Yorkers work to protect each other.  Daniel Penny did not commit a crime.  He committed self defense and New Yorkers should be thankful.”

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