The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Family of NYC chokehold victim moved by protests
By The Associated Press NEW YORK©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
27 Comments
Login to comment
MarkG
And the article makes no mention of his daughter's comments supporting the fact it was not racial!
Garner’s relatives spoke Saturday morning at the Harlem headquarters of the Rev. Al Sharpton, a prominent civil rights activist. Sharpton and Garner’s family planned to lay a wreath later Saturday at the site of Garner’s July 17 death in the New York City borough of Staten Island. No doubt racial accusations will be the topic! Murder will be the terminology and Sharpton does not know the Grand Jury's findings! For that matter neither do the protestors.
Nationwide, tensions were already running high because of a grand jury’s decision last week to not indict a white officer in the shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old, in Ferguson, Missouri. What about the dozens of "unarmed black men" shot every week by armed black men?....shhh, don't tell anyone.
This was exactly what the White House needed. The media and the public are enthralled with these stories and the real stories are buried in the news.
nath
Once again we have a white republican trying to claim that race isn't an issue for black people in the United States.
bass4funk
And the article makes no mention of his daughter's comments supporting the fact it was not racial!
And you're suprised by that? Now why would the liberal media do something like that air over and over what his daughter said? Ahhh, that would discredit perhaps the race hustlers and any notion that Gerner's had NO racial component to it. Again, I'm surprised about the indictment like most people, but to add race to this is so irresponsible for anyone to insinuate that. And let's not forget on of the officers on the scene with Garner was Black as well, but for some benign reason, no one points that out.
nath
Are you trying to say that black officers cannot have a negative image towards black suspects simply because the officer themself is black?
You really have no clue how racism works, do you.
MarkG
If you are referring to me, my race may surprise you. And my political officiation is not correct either. Just the typical name calling w/o facts. You stepped in it this time! Quite typical.
I do not say racism is not present in US. It is alive and well. It's not only from white Americans, it's also from Blacks. Just listen to Sharpton! Louis Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson.... Black leaders!
These protests are as a result of two Grand Jury's which concluded each of the two incidents were not overly illegal. That said, we have the report from Ferguson and no report from NYC. If you chose to disbelieve Ferguson's report so be it. A Federal investigation will follow. I doubt they will find different. NYC has not. We don't know what happened. Again, initial reports were possibly not accurate, we'll have to wait and see on that.
If racism exists in NYC, white officers are a minority, I find it hard to believe shows in routine daily activities. If you claim racial profiling, remember whites the minority, it is performed by Blacks also. .
bass4funk
So in your eyes, they would be considered an Uncle Tom then, right? Stop making it a racial issue then.
On the contrary, I do, but I also am able to deal with facts and reality.
@mark
This is what the left doesn't understand. I was listening to a speech last week from Farrakhan and yep, he still in a subtle was is basically like in true Nation of Islam militant style thinks that violence is the answer to so called White on Black attacks. These people you met are in NO WAY different from the Klan, David Duke, Metzger or the Aryan Nation. For some odd reason Libs think that racism is regulated to Whites only, White Conservatives to be exact.
jackdl
There should be a headline and an article about the protest in Tokyo in support of justice for Eric Garner and Mike Brown!
Photos of that protest can be seen on Twitter at #EricGarner. A photo of the lead banner was retweeted hundreds of times.
The banner read: "Tokyo stands with Ferguson".
That was a great demonstration of solidarity with the historic protests taking place in the US!
MarkG
The banner read: "Tokyo stands with Ferguson". Did they read the report? Or do they just want to bring attention to themselves.
That was a great demonstration of solidarity with the historic protests taking place in the US! This was a great demonstration of violent, vile, selfish lawbreakers rioting with no justification! The Grand Jury report was clear. Again I reiterate, a FEDERAL investigation is pending. Led by Eric Holder, a Black man and he has motivation to find different in the outcome. Wait and see what if anything is different.
This news outlet which covers the very liberal views and strong bias made no mention of the Black youths who used hammers to murder a white man as a protest and support for the Ferguson GJ result. Reports were "Kill The White People" was the chant. Racial? YES. Made mainstream news? NO. Why? Negative for their agenda!
smithinjapan
bass4funk: "And you're suprised by that? Now why would the liberal media do something like that air over and over what his daughter said?"
Yeah, better to watch the racist nutbags on FOX scream about how outraged they are by the protests, but not at all by the increasing number of incidents where white trigger happy cops kill unarmed blacks, and how it's not racial at all except targeting white men, etc. etc. For shame, bass.
MarkG
@Smith-
Oh Please! Can you research the statistics to see the reality before you make such false accusation? You have been programmed like too many others. I think Gruber refers to the, 'see little and know what they are fed' crowd. Glad I'm not one! Bass is not either! We are not alone and we are the majority weather you realize that or not.
Whites shooting Blacks...DOWN. Whites shooting whites...DOWN. Blacks shooting Blacks...UP. Blacks shooting whites...UP. And in no way am I saying this is racist driven!!!!!!!
When a combative suspect cannot be subdued safely and pose a threat, police have guns. Why do you think they were ever issued guns? It is the final intimidation weapon. Unarmed police in USA would accomplish little to nothing. Police have had side arms since day one here in USA. Their is a reason for that. Police shot at fleeing suspects decades ago, just a few. Today they even end high speed car chases if they feel it poses a threat to the public. Decades ago, they didn't stop. Shall we continue?
smithinjapan
MarkG: "Glad I'm not one! Bass is not either! We are not alone and we are the majority weather you realize that or not."
Keep telling yourself that. Or better yet, keep letting FOX tell it to you while you turn off the news about another black shot by white, trigger-happy cops and blame, in your words (or at least Bass'), "the liberal media" -- cause there's certainly no bias and subjectivity proven with labels like that.
Meanwhile, the rest of us will continue to watch news of these nation-wide protests being broadcast AROUND THE WORLD as you guys console yourselves over FOX newscaster's anger that traffic was delayed and only over the death of an unarmed and surrendering black man. The nerve of people who support restraint! And yes, the media didn't cover the seven-year-old girl saying it was 'not racial', for as beautiful and innocent as the little girl's thinking may be, she no doubt believes Santa is on his way to deliver presents as well. That said, I don't see any need to focus on her being in the protests at all; it's nice, but she's really only following what her peers are doing and is not that different from anyone else doing it.
MarkG
Keep telling yourself that. Or better yet, keep letting FOX tell it to you while you turn off the news about another black shot by white, trigger-happy cops and blame, in your words (or at least Bass'), "the liberal media" -- cause there's certainly no bias and subjectivity proven with labels like that. Yes, mass media is quite liberal. They have reported lies that have been disproved in Ferguson and it seems yourself and others ate it up! Brown was not surrendering as the GJ report claims. If you don't believe that, ask yourself with a FEDERAL investigation ongoing DRIVEN by ERIC HOLDER would they report falsely?
Meanwhile, the rest of us will continue to watch news of these nation-wide protests being broadcast AROUND THE WORLD as you guys console yourselves over FOX newscaster's anger that traffic was delayed and only over the death of an unarmed and surrendering black man. The nerve of people who support restraint! And yes, the media didn't cover the seven-year-old girl saying it was 'not racial', for as beautiful and innocent as the little girl's thinking may be, she no doubt believes Santa is on his way to deliver presents as well. That said, I don't see any need to focus on her being in the protests at all; it's nice, but she's really only following what her peers are doing and is not that different from anyone else doing it.
The protests broadcast around the world are also driven by agenda and you and many others do not realize the overblown and inaccurate coverage. I live here, I work here, I have Black, White, Hispanic, Indian, Native American, homosexual, heterosexual, wealthy and poor friends. I am relatively active in the community and offer my time helping the less fortunate. Few of my adult experiences have I had racism an issue. It's all about attitude. A punk is a punk and respect goes a long way. Some know that and some may never realize respect is the key.
Oh, and the daughter is 30 years old give or take. And Santa no doubt is in her life with all the fun, cheer and respect the Santa image brings.
smithinjapan
MarkG: "The protests broadcast around the world are also driven by agenda and you and many others do not realize the overblown and inaccurate coverage."
So, all the people around the world are wrong, but you and your small enclave of deniers are right (and somehow 'the majority')? Again, besides FOX news, where are you getting all this from if all of the 'liberal media' is full of lies and you guys are right?
" Few of my adult experiences have I had racism an issue. It's all about attitude."
And clearly the attitude of police in these cases is above reproach, is what you are saying, which completely invalidates your argument. There is CLEAR CUT EVIDENCE that the officers who MURDERED a man selling CIGARETTES illegally went above and beyond, and yet the man was indicted. At least in Ferguson there is SLIGHT room for doubt as to whether it was defense or not, but there is absolutely ZERO with the chokehold incident -- and yet you say 'a punk is a punk' but not a 'thug is a thug', right?
"A punk is a punk and respect goes a long way. Some know that and some may never realize respect is the key."
Respect is not automatic, my friend, and you don't respect police just because they are police, especially with what they are doing these days. Do you respect the Cleveland cop who shot the 12 year old -- the same guy who was going to be canned because he couldn't do his job and was having problems on the firing range, and whom the police did not do a proper background check on? Is that the kind of thing we should respect instead of respecting life? Are you saying the kid in that case was the punk and the officer a saint? Was the chokehold officer not a thug and should be respected? The cop in the Ferguson case, who's story was insane, deserves respect for shooting someone? Seems for someone who doesn't buy into race ever being an issue you sure do automatically side with the white guys killing blacks. Nice argument!
Shanique Smith
There will be detractors and there will be detractors. So, since Blacks are killing Blacks, the cops should get in on the action and kill Blacks too? The police's actions are only exacerbating the situation.
Citizen on citizen crimes are like a bad festering sore in every society across the globe. However, when you have someone who pledges to protect and to serve, instead persecute and slay, and contributes to the statistics, that should be a cause for concern.
Then one can't help but notice that, in the US, the people who are persecuted and slain by the police are of a certain skin pigmentation. Coincidence? The horrible part about this is the frequency in which these incidents take place. The cops could easily have detained Eric Garner, when he held his hands up. Instead one officer proceeded to tackle him with a chokehold. Garner, wasn't directed to place his hands behind him....nothing.
Only a blind and deaf person would say this is not racial. However, from my observation, the incidents involving the police do not comprise of the usual racism. These types of racism are more 'power' generated.
I end by saying that the protests are not only to give the victims' family support, but an outcry for the police to stop acting like criminals. Who knows, someone who is close to one of the protesters could be next, if this type of brutality continues. Selah
nath
I firmly believe that the US judicial system is prejudiced against black people, but in all fairness, I can't say that the Eric Garner situation was definitely racially motivated. He was huge, and the cops were on a power trip. That doesn't mean that they were necessarily racist, it may very well have simply been a power trip.
toshiko
@MarkGDEC. 07, 2014 - 09:18AM JST And the article makes no mention of his daughter's comments supporting the fact it was not racial!
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
She lost kist her Father and her daughter was injured. Don;t you think she takes care of her daughter at the moment than satisfy media and a busybidy who blame her for not talking to media like you???
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
RIP her father.
Shanique Smith
It's a power trip, and what is the stimulating factor? His ethnicity. Not his size. He was not resisting. They could easily have handcuffed him while he was standing. They didn't. They felt they had to 'overpower' him or they would not have felt satisfied. He was persecuted, but I don't think the cop intended to kill him.
However, chances are he would have been treated differently if he was doing the same thing and of the same size, but white. The color of his skin decided on how he should be approached. It's like a reflex action.
nath
Maybe, but maybe not. There is no way of knowing whether it was his ethnicity or his size.
Or maybe they felt they had to overpower him or they would have been attacked. Again, there is no way of knowing.
Really? http://www.truthandaction.org/la-cops-beat-woman-talking-cell-phone-driving/
Then how do you explain the story I just linked above? She was white, and they still did the same thing to her. Was it the color of her skin?
Just because he was black, doesn't mean that the reason they took him down was because he was black. The guy was huge, it's pretty hard to discredit that as the reason for taking him down. Not that that makes it right (there was no need to take him down regardless), but while it may have been because of his race, pulling the race card here isn't supported by the existing facts.
WilliB
Shanique Smith:
Frankly, from the video I do not see this at all. He was swatting the cop's hands away and told them to go away and leave him alone. He was certainly not cooperating!
I agree that jumping him was quite rough and you can make a case for police brutality. But "easily detained" is simply not true. How do you "easily detain" a big big who clearly does NOT want to be detained? Please explain.
Or are there two different videos out there?
toshiko
This kind of situation may be Black discriminate by white cops but excessive cop forces against citizens. So, don;t relax yet..
bass4funk
Racists? Prove it. Show any proof that you can back up that FOX is racist. You can't because you know it's BS. What do you call Geraldo Rivera , Juan Williams, Harris Faulkner, Kevin Jackson, Wendell Goler, Uma Pemmaraju, Jeanine Pirro all of them minorities. How is it possible that a racist network could hire some of the best in the business? Try harder, Smith.
So what you are essentially saying is, cops (including Black cops) wake up EVERY morning with thirst for blood in their eyes, wanting, yearning and waiting to beat the crap out of EVERY BLACK person they can find?! Shame on me you say??!! Question: if a Black cop kills a Black person, would he/she be trigger happy as well or you can ONLY be trigger happy if you are White?
So why are you NOT on JT complaining about the Blacks thugs that murdered Deandre Joshua one of the witnesses for officer Wilson or how about the Bosnian man who was beaten to death with a hammer by black thugs in Ferguson. The Bosnian community staged a protest. Why didn't the media cover that extensively? Let me tell you again, I work in the media a big portion of it in L.A. and I will say this without a waver of doubt there is undeniable bias in this industry and yes, it's coming from the liberal majority, dealt with it, worked with it, to even insinuate that there is NO bias within the liberal media, then I have two bridges to sell you.
Yeah, you do. If the cop tells you to move, you move, you don't, you will be moved by force, simple as that. You don't have to respect cops actually, but you do have to listen to them, because NO matter what you think or feel, you will NEVER win with a cop, NEVER. I have covered more than a dozen riots in 7 countries and the police always won.
No, but I do put myself in the officers shoes. How was he supposed to know. It is a very dangerous slope when a kid has a toy gun that looks like a real gun and from afar. the cop doesn't have time to inspect whatever is in a persons hand. Now should the have been killed, of course not. But the sad thing is, maybe that kid was living in a very bad and violent area where cops have to be on their guard at all times, it takes one second and it's over. Charles Barkley was spot on when he said "without cops we'd be living in a jungle." I blame the parents for giving the kid that kind of toy and living in that environment it was just a matter of time, that either a gang banger or a cop would accidentally kill that kid.
Sadly, mistakes like this one, you will have that in any industry.
Yes or if you want to hash it out with a cop, fine. But I can ensure you that you would never win.
Doesn't matter. Brow was told to get off the sidewalk, if he would have listened, he'd still be alive.
I side with the law.
@Shanique
And most of the Black homicides in the US are committed by other Blacks.
Prove it. By the way, how do you feel about the Bosnian man who was murdered just for being white?
Maybe if some of these people would stop acting like animals and would follow the law, then maybe we would have less shooting and less fatalities.
MarkG
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-12-07/bloomberg-politics-poll-finds-most-americans-see-race-relations-worsening-since-obamas-election
Look at the pie charts. Clearly a difference in their poll selection!
Blacks have been playing the victim for decades. Time to get over it and move on. Slavery was wrong and made right 150 years ago. Racial oppression was wrong and made right 50 years ago. Lets move forward and loose the "We're the victims" attitude!
Racism will never disappear completely. Fat/thin, tall/short, smart/stupid, speech impediment/clear speaker, well built woman/flat chested clumsy/talented....
We all have preferences and treat each individual somewhat different. Just watch school children. Its instinctive I think. Not accepting it or saying its right but it is/was/and will be present to some degree.
toshiko
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
I did not know size of people are race. Where can I find new definition of race you mentioned????
I live in Nevada and I could not register Color as yellow, Japanese, not even Brown. White was only race I got. Please write your source so that next time I go DMV to get old people' placard , I can insist my source. This way, I am no longer White.
MarkG
@Toshiko- I was pointing out prejudice points of view. Black/white, doesn't matter, we have prejudices with everything to various degrees.
At the DMV, was Asia-Pacific an option? It is most of the time I see race questions like those.
And on that topic what difference does it make what race you are other than medically. Some race origins have some medical condition tendencies. So, we can say racism starts at the top classifying us into categories. The Fed is doing it.
nath
And an apple is not an orange. What's your point here?
toshiko
@MarkG: In Nevada, Either Black or White. I thought Yellow will be OK but no. There is no Asia Pacific.
BTW there was cop shot a Casino robber news today. As casino security personals do not carry guns, when crime occurs Las Vegas Metro is called on any crime. Rio picture was displayed. Cops went to catch robbers and Taser did not work. the criminal said he has bombs so bomb squad came. Nothing worked so finally cops shot him. Here this kind of situatuon, color is not mentioned. My guess is only black and white in Nevada and media can not figure color of criminals. There is no demo or protest here. Taser but no chokehold here. I guess nobody is interested in color of skin here.
bass4funk
But it's still a fruit. That's the point. People are people.