The death of 43-year old Eric Garner has sparked public OUTRAGE since the video release of Garner’s death went viral. In the video, Garner pleads his innocence repeatedly to plain clothes police officer who approached him for allegedly selling ‘untaxed’ cigarettes on July 17th.
Moments later other officers arrive and Garner is placed in a chokehold. Garner shouts numerous times that ‘he cannot breath’ but the officer proceeds to restrain him and Garner dies minutes later upon EMS arrival.
There was much debate as to who should assume the blame. Some higher-up officials believe that Garner would not have died had he not resisted arrest along with his health conditions with ‘asthma’ and ‘obesity’ , while others simply cannot excuse the ‘brutality’ of police officers.
Medical Examiners have now ruled that Garner’s death was indeed a ‘homicide’. This news come days following Garner’s funeral and public protests.
Given the MAJOR concern about the constant police brutality that is targeted to black men [in particular]
Al Sharpon met with City Hall officials this week to discuss the “new training” that needs to be taken by ALL police officers.
” You don’t need training if a man says 11 times that I cannot breath, and you still hold him in a grip. You don’t need training. You need people to understand that the law is what they [police] use to PROTECT and UPHOLD, they’re NOT above the law.”
New York Mayor Bill Deblasio issued the following:
” We all have the responsibility to work together to heal the wounds of decades of mistrust and create a culture where the police department and the communities they protect RESPECT each other “
At this time Officer Pantaleo has been stripped of his gun, removed from work duty, and will face a grand jury . Executive Director of NYC chapter of the Civil Liberties Union, Donna Leiberman says:
” When the medical examiner rules a case a homicide by chokehold, and the entire world has seen a video of the chokehold, the case is going before the grand jury. “
Sidebar: What about the EMT’s? Will they stand trial for not doing ANYTHING.
Stay Tuned PLUM’s!