Erica Garner’s father, Eric, died on July 17th after being put in an unauthorized chokehold by the NYPD. She says that she’s gone to the Staten Island location of the incident and laid down twice a week ever since.
Garner’s daughter tells the Daily News:
I felt his spirit when I was walking down to the spot. I’ve been doing this every Tuesday and Thursday since my father’s death. I do it without cameras there. I do it with cameras there, and I’m going to keep doing it.
Mass demonstrations and “die-ins” have erupted all around the country to protest a Staten Island grand jury’s decision to not indict the officer, Daniel Pantaleo, who placed Garner in a choke-hold, but Miss Garner says that she doesn’t feel any of that support locally:
I feel the love and energy from around the world, but on Staten Island it’s been emotionless.
Pantaleo may still face disciplinary action from the NYPD, which is conducting an investigation. The federal government hasn’t decided whether or not to bring civil rights charges. In the meantime, protests and outrage continue. On Thursday, dozens of congressional staffers walked out in a show of support for Garner and Mike Brown, another unarmed black man killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri.
Saturday will bring more demonstrations in Manhattan with the Millions March planned to meet at Washington Square Park at 2 PM.
(Photo: Kia Makarechi)
