New York, NY — A New York City grand jury has decided not to indict the white police officer who killed Eric Garner, a 43-year-old unarmed black man, when he placed him in a chokehold while attempting to arrest him. The chokehold is an action that the New York Police Department prohibits.A video of the incident shows officers in Staten Island wrestling Garner to the ground to make an arrest. During the struggle, Officer Daniel Pantaleo places Garner into a chokehold, and Garner, who had asthma, can then be heard shouting “I can’t breathe” at least eight times. Soon after Garner dies on the scene, and the medical examiner rules his death as a homicide.
The video, which went viral on Facebook and Twitter, brought accusations of racism against the NYPD and prompted Mayor Bill de Blasio to delay an overseas trip. In response, four emergency workers were suspended and two police officers turned in their guns and badges as the Staten Island district attorney. Next, an official police internal affairs investigation was launched.
Similar to the recent Michael Brown case, a grand jury was asked to decide whether the officer should face charges of criminal wrongdoing. And just like the Michael Brown case, the jury decided not to indict him.
Major protesting is expected in New York City and in other major cities across the country, as civil rights leaders are reportedly shocked and upset at the ruling. Last week, New York City protestors upset about the Michael Brown ruling stopped traffic on two major New York City highways and in the Lincoln Tunnel.
Watch the incident below as recorded back in July 2014: