Last night, hundreds of demonstrators marched through New York City, protesting a grand jury decision not to indict a police officer in the death of Staten Island resident Eric Garner. This summer, Garner, who was black and unarmed, died during a confrontation with police that was captured on video. Police officers approached the 43-year-old and attempted to place him under arrest, suspecting he was selling untaxed cigarettes. The arrest became contentious, and several officers grabbed Garner, while one placed him in a chokehold. Despite repeated cries of “I can’t breathe,” the arrest and chokehold continued, and Garner died on the street. Chokehold’s are officially prohibited by the NYPD. Though the New York Medical Examiner noted Garner’s numerous health problems, his caused of death was ruled a homicide caused by “compression of neck, compression of chest and prone positioning.”
Demonstrators in New York City chanted “I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” as they marched through Times Square and Manhattan. Though there were numerous arrests—mostly for blocking traffic—there were no reports of violence or vandalism. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters that he had spoken to officials from Washington, and that there would be a federal investigation into the death of Eric Garner …
