Thousands march in NY over police chokehold death
BBC Online :
Thousands of demonstrators have marched peacefully through the New York borough of Staten Island in protest at the death of a black boy at the hands of a white police officer.
Eric Garner, 43. died in July after being placed in a chokehold as police arrested him for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes.
The march was led by the Rev Al Sharpton and relatives of Mr Garner.
He died weeks before black teenager Michael Brown was killed in Missouri.
The 18-year-old was shot dead on 9 August after being stopped by a police officer for walking in the street in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson.
The killing sparked days of protest culminating in the deployment of the National Guard, which was withdrawn on Friday.
Some of the protesters in New York displayed banners saying “Black lives matter” while others demanded justice in the cases of both Mr Garner and Mr Brown, as a large police contingent looked on.
Some shops were closed for the day on Saturday, amid fears the protest could turn violent as happened in Ferguson earlier this week.
But civil rights activist Mr Sharpton repeatedly warned demonstrators that such action would not be tolerated. He said that Mr Garner’s death was a defining moment for police nationwide.
In the event protesters filed peacefully past the spot where Mr Garner was held to the ground by police as the marchers processed towards the the Staten Island prosecutor’s office.
“We will prevail,” the black reverend – who was accompanied by Mr Garner’s widow and several of his children – told the crowd. “They will not cry alone.”
Esaw Garner, Eric Garner’s widow, cries on stage as she takes part in the “We Will Not Go Back” march and rally in the Staten Island borough of New York August (23 August 2014) Mr Garner’s widow, Esaw, was overcome with emotion at the protest
A New York grand jury is considering criminal charges against Mr Pantaleo.
Mr Garner, who had asthma, was heard on a witness video shouting “I can’t breathe!” as police arrested him.
A medical examiner has ruled his death a homicide.
Thousands of demonstrators have marched peacefully through the New York borough of Staten Island in protest at the death of a black boy at the hands of a white police officer.
Eric Garner, 43. died in July after being placed in a chokehold as police arrested him for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes.
The march was led by the Rev Al Sharpton and relatives of Mr Garner.
He died weeks before black teenager Michael Brown was killed in Missouri.
The 18-year-old was shot dead on 9 August after being stopped by a police officer for walking in the street in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson.
The killing sparked days of protest culminating in the deployment of the National Guard, which was withdrawn on Friday.
Some of the protesters in New York displayed banners saying “Black lives matter” while others demanded justice in the cases of both Mr Garner and Mr Brown, as a large police contingent looked on.
Some shops were closed for the day on Saturday, amid fears the protest could turn violent as happened in Ferguson earlier this week.
But civil rights activist Mr Sharpton repeatedly warned demonstrators that such action would not be tolerated. He said that Mr Garner’s death was a defining moment for police nationwide.
In the event protesters filed peacefully past the spot where Mr Garner was held to the ground by police as the marchers processed towards the the Staten Island prosecutor’s office.
“We will prevail,” the black reverend – who was accompanied by Mr Garner’s widow and several of his children – told the crowd. “They will not cry alone.”
Esaw Garner, Eric Garner’s widow, cries on stage as she takes part in the “We Will Not Go Back” march and rally in the Staten Island borough of New York August (23 August 2014) Mr Garner’s widow, Esaw, was overcome with emotion at the protest
A New York grand jury is considering criminal charges against Mr Pantaleo.
Mr Garner, who had asthma, was heard on a witness video shouting “I can’t breathe!” as police arrested him.
A medical examiner has ruled his death a homicide.