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Eric Garner death: US grand jury system 'broken' Eric Garner death: US grand jury system 'broken'
(35 minutes later)
Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton has labelled the US grand jury system "broken" and called on the federal government to address it.Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton has labelled the US grand jury system "broken" and called on the federal government to address it.
Earlier the US justice department said it will investigate the death of a black man placed in an apparent chokehold by a New York police officer.Earlier the US justice department said it will investigate the death of a black man placed in an apparent chokehold by a New York police officer.
Activists have called for a march in Washington next week as a result.Activists have called for a march in Washington next week as a result.
A federal probe into police in Cleveland found a pattern of "unreasonable force".A federal probe into police in Cleveland found a pattern of "unreasonable force".
The justice department found a systemic pattern of reckless and inappropriate use of force by officers in Cleveland, a report released on Thursday said.The justice department found a systemic pattern of reckless and inappropriate use of force by officers in Cleveland, a report released on Thursday said.
"We saw too many incidents in which officers accidentally shot someone either because they fired their guns accidentally or because they shot the wrong person," the report said."We saw too many incidents in which officers accidentally shot someone either because they fired their guns accidentally or because they shot the wrong person," the report said.
Before that report, civil rights leaders spoke about the case of Eric Garner, the man who died after being restrained in New York.Before that report, civil rights leaders spoke about the case of Eric Garner, the man who died after being restrained in New York.
"We need to centralise and make clear that we want the justice department and the federal government to deal with the fact that the grand jury systems on a state level are broken and seem to lack the capacity to deal with police," Rev Sharpton said on Thursday."We need to centralise and make clear that we want the justice department and the federal government to deal with the fact that the grand jury systems on a state level are broken and seem to lack the capacity to deal with police," Rev Sharpton said on Thursday.
His statements follow an announcement by Attorney General Eric Holder launching "an independent, thorough, fair and expeditious" investigation into potential civil rights violations in the chokehold case.His statements follow an announcement by Attorney General Eric Holder launching "an independent, thorough, fair and expeditious" investigation into potential civil rights violations in the chokehold case.
Mr Holder said he was continuing a review of how to heal a "breakdown in trust" between police and communities.Mr Holder said he was continuing a review of how to heal a "breakdown in trust" between police and communities.
The justice department, he said, would conduct a "complete review" of material gathered in the local investigation. "All lives must be valued - all lives," he added.The justice department, he said, would conduct a "complete review" of material gathered in the local investigation. "All lives must be valued - all lives," he added.
Also on Thursday, President Barack Obama said "too many Americans feel deep unfairness when it comes to the gap between our professed ideals and how laws are applied on a day-to-day basis".Also on Thursday, President Barack Obama said "too many Americans feel deep unfairness when it comes to the gap between our professed ideals and how laws are applied on a day-to-day basis".
Mr Garner, 43, was stopped on a street in New York on 17 July on suspicion of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.Mr Garner, 43, was stopped on a street in New York on 17 July on suspicion of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.
After a confrontation with police he was wrestled to the ground and restrained by force. He became unresponsive and later died.After a confrontation with police he was wrestled to the ground and restrained by force. He became unresponsive and later died.
America saw a wave of race-related unrest only last week over the decision not to indict another white police officer who had shot dead a young black man in Ferguson, Missouri. The US saw a wave of race-related unrest only last week over the decision not to indict another white police officer who had shot dead a young black man in Ferguson, Missouri.
The confrontation between Eric Garner and police officer Daniel Pantaleo was captured on a mobile phone. Staten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan said the grand jury found "no reasonable cause" to bring charges.
The footage shows Mr Pantaleo and other officers arresting him after a lengthy exchange during which he verbally refuses to be handcuffed. The grand jury could have considered a range of charges, from murder to a lesser offense such as reckless endangerment.
Several officers move to restrain Mr Garner, with Mr Pantaleo holding him by the neck. The detainee, who is asthmatic, can be heard shouting repeatedly, "I can't breathe!". The city's medical examiner's office found in the summer that Mr Garner's death was caused by "the compression of his chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police".
City officials found Mr Garner's death was caused by "the compression of his chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police". New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has said policing in the city "has to change" and announced a retraining plan.
Asthma and heart disease also contributed to his death, they said. Police Commissioner William J Bratton said about 22,000 officers will complete a three-day course.
When the grand jury decided not to bring charges against Mr Pantaleo, the announcement perplexed legal experts.When the grand jury decided not to bring charges against Mr Pantaleo, the announcement perplexed legal experts.
Ekow Yankah, a professor at Cardozo School of Law, told the Associated Press it was "hard to understand" how the jury failed to see probably cause of a crime.Ekow Yankah, a professor at Cardozo School of Law, told the Associated Press it was "hard to understand" how the jury failed to see probably cause of a crime.
James Cohen of Fordham University Law School added: "Logic doesn't play a role in this process."James Cohen of Fordham University Law School added: "Logic doesn't play a role in this process."
On the streets protesters marched through New York and other cities in the US late on Wednesday, occasionally disrupting traffic, chanting "I can't breathe!" and "Hands up - don't choke!"On the streets protesters marched through New York and other cities in the US late on Wednesday, occasionally disrupting traffic, chanting "I can't breathe!" and "Hands up - don't choke!"
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