CNN and other news sources in the U.S. report widespread protests in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, and Oakland. Thousands of people in these cities are protesting the grand jury's decision to find a white police officer not guilty in the death of a Black man during an arrest. According to CNN, hundreds of protesters held a rally in various parts of New York late Wednesday, December 3, local time. Their protest is against the decision of a grand jury in New York that found Daniel Pantaleo, a white police officer, not guilty in the death of Eric Garner, a Black man. Mr. Garner was accused by the police of selling illegal cigarettes and resisted arrest in July of this year. A video published online shows several police officers attempting to subdue Mr. Garner, but one officer wraps his arm around Garner's neck for several seconds. In the video, Eric Garner can be heard struggling to shout, 'I can't breathe.' This Black man, who suffered from asthma, died shortly after being taken to the hospital. Despite this evidence and the coroner's report stating that Mr. Garner's death was due to 'compression of the chest and being placed in a dangerous position,' the grand jury decided not to indict the police officer. This is despite the fact that wrapping an arm around a suspect's neck for arrest has been illegal in the New York Police Department for years. Despite the grand jury's decision, Eric Holder, the U.S. Attorney General, announced a separate federal investigation into Eric Garner's death. The Associated Press also published the opinions of several law professors from various U.S. universities who expressed disappointment and dissatisfaction with the grand jury's ruling. 'I can't breathe,' which were Eric Garner's last words before his death, have now become a rallying cry for protesters in various U.S. cities. Barack Obama, the President of the United States, Bill de Blasio, the Mayor of New York, and the lawyer for the Garner family have also expressed disappointment with the grand jury's ruling. Protests in several U.S. cities against this ruling come just days after a Missouri grand jury found Darren Wilson, a white police officer who shot and killed Black teenager Michael Brown, not guilty in a very similar ruling. This ruling also faced protests and riots in various U.S. cities.
Protests Against Acquittal of a Police Officer in New York
Protests erupted in multiple U.S. cities against a grand jury's decision to acquit a police officer involved in the death of Eric Garner, a Black man. The protests reflect ongoing tensions regarding police violence and racial injustice in America. This incident is significant as it highlights systemic issues within law enforcement and the judicial system.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Protests erupted in multiple U.S. cities after a grand jury decided not to indict a police officer in the death of Eric Garner. This decision has intensified discussions on racial injustice and police violence.
- Eric Garner died during an arrest where a banned chokehold was used.
- The grand jury's decision not to indict led to widespread protests.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Eric Garner's death and the subsequent acquittal of the officer involved are part of a broader pattern of incidents that have fueled the Black Lives Matter movement.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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