“No justice, no peace!” echoed through the streets as hundreds gathered on Staten Island, New York, this week to mark the 10th anniversary of Eric Garner’s death. His last words, “I can’t breathe,” spoken while a police officer put him in a banned chokehold, have become a powerful symbol in the fight for justice and police accountability in the United States.
On July 17, 2014, Garner died after being restrained by Officer Daniel Pantaleo of the New York Police Department. Bystander videos captured Garner gasping for air while struggling with police before losing consciousness and later being pronounced dead at a hospital.
Garner’s death sparked widespread protests and contributed to the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Just weeks later, 18-year-old Michael Brown was shot dead by police in Ferguson, Missouri, further fueling public outrage.
Six years after Garner’s death, a police officer held a knee to George Floyd’s neck for nine-and-a-half minutes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to restrain him, following an incident at a convenience store. On video taken by a witness, Floyd is heard saying, “I can’t breathe.” The video went viral and triggered protests around the globe.
The officer, Derek Chauvin, was convicted of murdering Floyd.
Eric Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr, acknowledged Wednesday that police have a tough job, but emphasized the need to remove problematic officers, characterizing them as “bad apples in the police department,” according to the Associated Press.
Carr remembered her son’s love for Christmas and shared that some days are more difficult than others. Since Garner’s death, New York has increased the use of body cameras by police and passed the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act, making it a felony for officers to use chokeholds that result in injury or death.
Pantaleo was fired in 2019 but never charged with a crime. Despite local and federal investigations, authorities determined that his actions could not be prosecuted. Richard Donoghue, the former U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, stated in 2019 that proving Pantaleo acted willfully in violation of the law would be necessary for any federal charges.
Garner’s family received a $5.9 million settlement from New York City but continued to seek justice through a judicial inquiry aimed at examining police conduct.
Alvin Bragg, a civil rights lawyer who represented Garner’s family and is now the Manhattan district attorney, expressed admiration for the family’s resilience. “While I still feel the pain of Eric Garner’s loss, I am in awe of his family’s strength,” he said, as reported by AP.
New York Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, reflected on the case, saying, “I remember it like yesterday,” and expressed hope that no other incident like Garner’s occurs again.
The tribute included a march from the St. George Ferry Terminal to Tompkinsville Park, where speakers commemorated Garner’s life. Attendees also chanted, “Say his name: Eric Garner,” while holding signs bearing his image.
Legacy Garner, Eric Garner’s daughter, who was only three months old when her father died, marched with a sign that read, “The Legacy Eric Garner Left Behind.”
The event was organized by the E.R.I.C. Initiative Foundation, led by Gwen Carr. The foundation is dedicated to amplifying the voices of those affected by gun violence and police misconduct, raising awareness of the issues that perpetuate these injustices, and creating a society where every life is valued and protected.
Some information for this report come from the Associated Press.
