Activists want NYPD officer charged as Eric Garner death is ruled a homicide

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/02/campaigners-nypd-officer-charges-eric-garner-homicide

Version 0 of 1.

Activists renewed their call on Saturday for criminal charges to be brought against an NYPD officer, a day after New York City’s chief medical examiner’s report said a Staten Island man died as a result of being held in an illegal chokehold. The report ruled the 17 July death of Eric Garner a homicide.

“The medical examiner certified what we said for two weeks,” said the Reverend Al Sharpton, at a Saturday morning rally in New York City. “An illegal chokehold was the cause of the death of this unarmed man.”

Calls for charges began after video of an officer holding Garner in a chokehold showed the 43-year-old pleading to be released and saying: “I can’t breathe!”

Daniel Pantaleo, an eight-year NYPD veteran, has been stripped of his badge and gun while an investigation takes place.

Garner was being arrested for allegedly selling untaxed single cigarettes, as part of a policing policy, known as “broken windows”, which strictly enforces action against minor crimes. His death has led to increased tensions between citizens’ groups and the city government led by Mayor Bill de Blasio and the police commissioner, Bill Bratton.

Sharpton staged a similar rally last weekend, at which members of Garner’s family spoke in public for the first time. Other incidents between police officers and members of the public have added to tensions.

On Friday the city’s chief medical examiner, Julie Bolcer, said Garner was killed by neck compressions from the chokehold and “the compression of his chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police”, according to the Associated Press. Bolcer’s report also cited obesity, asthma and heart disease as contributing factors in Garner’s death.

On Saturday, family members said they were grateful the medical examiner had ruled Garner’s death a homicide, and were waiting to see whether criminal charges would be brought against Pantaleo.

“Yesterday, when I heard the coroner’s report … I just started saying ‘Thank you Jesus’,” said Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr.

The Staten Island district attorney, Daniel Donovan, will determine whether to impanel a grand jury to possible bring charges against Pantaleo.

“I met with the prosecutors and I felt like I did the right thing by doing that,” said Garner’s widow, Esaw Garner. “I just want them to do the right thing and give me justice for my husband.”