Justice For Eric Garner

A Staten Island man who suffered from asthma died Thursday after a cop put him in a chokehold while other officers slammed his head into the ground.

Eric Garner, 43, told NYPD repeatedly he couldn’t breathe as they tried to arrest him. But within moments Garner, a married father of six children with two grandchildren, stopped struggling and appeared to be unconscious as police called paramedics to the scene. An angry crowd gathered, some recording with their phones.

Witnesses say Eric Garner was doing nothing wrong when he was approached by NYPD. He was standing outside a store and moments before, he had broken up a fight.

But police officials said Garner had a history of arrests for selling untaxed cigarettes. Cops said they observed him selling his wares and moved in for an arrest.

The incident, that was partially caught on video camera, shows an upset Garner who exclaimed about the police always targeting him. Then authorities attempt to arrest him.

Officials say Garner was resisting arrest as he was trying to be subdued. But the way in which he was subdued is now causing outrage within family, friends, witnesses, and community activists.

Captured video shows Garner is put in a chokehold during the arrest.

A chokehold is not authorized in New York Police department for any police official to use during an arrest.

Justice For Eric Garner

The mayor, who called the death “a terrible tragedy,” said afterward that he was postponing his family vacation to Italy one day, until Saturday, because “he thought it was important to be here tonight [Friday] and consult with community leaders,” according to an administration official.

But some residents who witnessed the arrest attempt, along with community leaders, said the incident was an example of police brutality and racism toward a victim who was black. They called for strong action by the mayor and police officials.

“Chokeholds are prohibited by the New York City Police Department and most departments,” NYPD Police Commisioner Bratton said at the news conference. The commissioner added that “Mr. Garner repeatedly complained of difficulty breathing as the officers wrestled him to the ground.”

Eric Garner had suffered a heart attack during the confrontation.

An ambulance was called and Garner went into cardiac arrest while he was being taken to Richmond University Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, Bratton said. However, he added that the medical examiner will rule on the cause of death.

In reaction to the death of Eric Garner, Rev. Al Sharpton has organized two rallies seeking justice.

Photo Source: NY Daily News