This time, it was father of six Eric Garner, who was killed by Officer Daniel Pantaleo on July 17th. He was accused of selling illegal cigarettes, and after 'resisting' arrest (verbally, not physically or threatening), Pantaleo placed him in an illegal chokehold until he had died from suffocation. Garner, who had asthma, said eleven times that he couldn't breathe, but the officer wouldn't let go.
The grand jury in this case also chose not to indict, even though the entire altercation was caught on video. Daniel Pantaleo did not receive any charges.
(disturbing content warning)
What is it going to take for justice in this nation? We either need to train our cops better, or reform the grand jury system. The system itself is inherently rigged when dealing with cases against police officers; as the prosecutor has to present evidence against a fellow colleague.
It is completely unfair for a police officer to not be charged when he not only killed someone who was not threatening him, but he also did it illegally, as chokeholds such as this are banned in the NYPD.
If he hadn't resisted none of this would have ever happened
ReplyDeleteIf he wasn't selling illegal cigarettes this wouldn't have happened.
ReplyDeleteBut is a person's life worth some cigarettes? Garner was verbally resisting arrest, he did not threaten the police, he did not go after them physically.
DeleteThe chokehold itself was in violation of the NYPD's policies. Deadly force, in the state of New York, can only be used if the officer believes their life was in danger.
It was excessive and unnecessary force that shouldn't have resulted in this happening.