Notable White Vigilantes Who Were Never Held Accountable

Source: Alex Kent / Getty

White vigilante Daniel Penny was fully acquitted this week after a jury found him not guilty of choking Jordan Neely, an unarmed Black man, to death on a New York City subway train.

His acquittal has sparked conversation around white vigilantism, a practice rooted in a long history of white men targeting Black people under the guise of public safety or self-defense. 

“Today’s verdict in the Jordan Neely case does not change what we have known to be true in our hearts since the very beginning: Jordan Neely’s life was brutally taken away because of unnecessary vigilantism, said Rev. Al Sharpton after the verdict. “This verdict represents the blatant legalization of civilian vigilantism, sending a dangerous message that citizens can now take matters into their own hands, even if it leads to someone’s death.”

A vigilante is defined by Webster as “a member of a volunteer committee organized to suppress and punish crime summarily” or “a self-appointed doer of justice.”

American history is filled with stories of White men terrorizing Black folks but claiming to be a protector of the people. From The Night Riders of the Jim Crow South to George Zimmerman, white vigilantes have always been a part of America’s lexicon, perpetrating the good, but in reality, nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

In this piece, we will examine some notable white vigilantes in modern American history, exploring how their actions, often justified as protection for others, have perpetuated systematic violence against Black communities.

Bernhard Goetz

Source: Rick Maiman / Getty

In 1984, Bernhard Goetz shot four Black men, Barry Allen, Darrell Cabey, Troy Canty, and James Ramseur, on a New York City subway train. Goetz claimed the men were trying to rob him because one of the men asked for money. He later surrendered but was indicted on three counts of illegal weapons possession, according to Britannica. The grand jury failed to return an indictment on the more serious charges facing Goetz, including attempted murder and assault. The case was eventually brought to a second grand jury, where he was indicted on a total of 13 charges ranging from illegal weapons possession to attempted murder. Ultimately, Goetz’s lawyer successfully argued self-defense, and he was only convicted of criminal possession of a handgun. He served less than a year in jail.

George Zimmerman

Source: Pool / Getty

 

In 2012, George Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, claiming it was self-defense. Zimmerman, who was a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Florida, during the shooting, took it upon himself to approach Martin even though he was told not to by 911 operators. Martin was visiting relatives at the time of the shooting and was walking back home from the store when he was then harassed by Zimmerman. The two got into it, and Zimmerman shot Martin, killing the boy. Trayvon Martin’s death and Zimmerman’s eventual acquittal sparked national outrage and birthed “Black Lives Matter,” one of the biggest social movements in American history.

Kyle Rittenhouse

Source: Pool / Getty

Although Kyle Rittenhouse didn’t shoot and kill a Black person, he most certainly belongs on this list.

In 2021, Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager who killed two people and injured another at a racial justice protest in 2020, was acquitted on all five counts. Rittenhouse’s case was a fine blend of white vigilantism, legal double standards along racial lines when it comes to self-defense and an apparent referendum on racial justice protests. On August 25, 2020, Rittenhouse killed Joseph Rosenbaum Anthony Huber and shot Gaige Grosskreutz, the sole survivor of the vigilante shootings. All three were described as activists in their own rights.

These stories of white vigilantes are but a few of many we never even hear about. They reflect a troubling pattern in American history that often excuses violence against Black people and their allies under this false flag of protection or self-defense. As we examine these stories and others like them, we must ask ourselves, if a justice system only works for some, how can we expect the many to embrace it?

SEE ALSO:

Daniel Penny Found Not Guilty In Chokehold Killing Of Jordan Neely Recorded On Video

Why Trump’s Approach To Immigration Won’t Stop Migrants Trying To Enter The U.S.