In New York City, hundreds of protesters gathered near City Hall Wednesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of Eric Garner, a Staten Island man who was choked to death by NYPD officer Daniel Panteleo as he gasped “I can’t breathe” 11 times. Wednesday’s youth-led protest and march came a day after the U.S. Justice Department announced it will not file federal charges against Officer Panteleo, who remains on the NYPD force. This is Gwen Carr, Eric Garner’s mother.
Gwen Carr: “My son was killed five years ago today. And I’m still feeling that same pain. We have to get those officers fired, the ones who were on the scene that day who murdered my son. So we are calling the de Blasio administration: Fire those cops!”
Crowd: “Fire those cops!”
Gwen Carr: “You have the power.”
Crowd: “You have the power.”
Gwen Carr: “Assert your power.”
Officer Daniel Pantaleo has remained on the police force but could lose his job and pension if found guilty of violating NYPD procedures. A disciplinary hearing for Panteleo wrapped up in June, and a decision is expected next month.