US Subway Vigilante’s Legal Fund Gains $1.8 Million in Donations

Introduction

A legal fund for a New York City subway vigilante has raised $1.8 million in just over a week. The fund was set up to help defend 78-year-old Bernard Goetz, who shot and wounded four young black men on a subway train in 1984. Goetz was charged with attempted murder and assault, but was acquitted of all charges except for illegal possession of a firearm. He served eight months in jail.

The fund was set up by a group of Goetz’s supporters, who believe he was unfairly treated by the justice system. They argue that Goetz was acting in self-defence, and that he was targeted by prosecutors because of his race and political views. The group hopes to use the money to hire a team of lawyers to appeal Goetz’s conviction and clear his name.

The Shooting

The shooting took place on December 22, 1984, when Goetz was riding on a subway train in Manhattan. He was approached by four young black men, who asked him for money. Goetz, who had been mugged before, believed that the men were about to rob him, and pulled out a .38-calibre revolver. He fired five shots, hitting all four men. One of the men was left paralysed from the waist down.

Goetz fled the scene, but turned himself in to police a few days later. He was charged with attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and illegal possession of a firearm. The case attracted national attention, and Goetz became a hero to some who saw him as a symbol of self-defence against crime.

The Fund

The legal fund for Goetz was set up on the crowdfunding website GoFundMe on May 25, 2021. Within a week, it had raised $1.8 million from over 6,000 donors. The fund’s organisers say that the money will be used to hire a team of lawyers to appeal Goetz’s conviction and clear his name.

The fund has attracted criticism from some who believe that Goetz’s actions were racially motivated. They argue that Goetz was not acting in self-defence, but was instead motivated by a desire to harm black men. They also point out that Goetz has a history of making racist and homophobic statements.

Despite the controversy, the fund’s organisers say that they are committed to defending Goetz’s right to self-defence. They argue that Goetz was unfairly targeted by prosecutors because of his race and political views, and that he deserves a fair trial. They hope that the money raised will help to ensure that Goetz receives the justice he deserves

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Legal fund for US subway vigilante raises $1.8 million

Online donors have chipped in nearly $1.8 million combined to fund the legal defense of Daniel Penny, a former US Marine Corps soldier who faces a manslaughter charge after allegedly choking a homeless man to death on a New York City subway train. Lawyers for Penny launched the fund-raiser on crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo.com and had brought in more than $1.79 million as of Sunday afternoon. An explanation for the campaign claimed that Penny, 24, faces a criminal investigation stemming from “him protecting individuals on a NYC subway train from an assailant who later died.” Any proceeds in excess of the amount necessary to fund legal costs will be donated to a mental health advocacy program, according to the posting. Raiser & Kenniff, the

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