Tag: eric garner

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Racism

Eric Garner’s Family Settles With City for $5.9 Million

“No sum of money can make this family whole, but hopefully the Garner family can find some peace and finality from today’s settlement,” Mayor de Blasio said yesterday. “By reaching a resolution, family and other loved ones can move forward even though we know they will never forget this tragic incident.”

Eric Garner’s death was ruled a homicide by the coroner’s office when police officer Daniel Pantaleo used an illegal chokehold on him while attempting an arrest. Garner’s family initially requested $75 million, but settled for $5.9 million instead. Officer Pantaleo was never indicted in Garner’s death and is still working with the police department.

In an interview with the New York Post, Ed Mullins of the Police Benevolent Association expressed his anger and frustration at the settlement;

“Where is the justice for New York taxpayers?” he asked. ” Where is the consistency in the civil system? In my view, the city has chosen to abandon its fiscal responsibility to all of its citizens and genuflect to the select few who curry favor with the city government.”

“Mr. Garner’s family should not be rewarded simply because he repeatedly chose to break the law and resist arrest,” Mullins concluded.

Categories
BLM Featured

NY Judge Rules – Eric Garner’s Grand Jury Documents Will Remain Secret

The ruling came Thursday from the New York Supreme Court after formal requests were made by civil rights groups, including the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Legal Aid Society the city’s public advocate, and the NAACP.

“The failure to indict the officer responsible for the death of Eric Garner has left many wondering if black lives even matter,” NYCLU executive director Donna Lieberman said in a statement. “Sadly, today’s decision will only leave many asking that same question again.”

Veteran New York Supreme Court Justice William E Garnett said in the ruling that he did not believe the civil rights lawyers had established a compelling enough reason for warrant a disclosure of the grand jury minutes.

“What would they use the minutes for? The only answer which the court heard was the possibility of effecting legislative change,” he wrote. “That proffered need is purely speculative and does not satisfy the requirements of the law.”

The Garner family was not a part of the petition but supported calls for the release of the grand jury transcripts. Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr, and his daughter, Erica Garner were present in court for the oral arguments.

Categories
Politics

Republican DA in Eric Garner’s Case will Run for Michael Grimm’s House Seat

And of course, the Republican delegation in New York supports his candidacy.

The district attorney who oversaw the investigation into the police-involved death of Eric Garner in Staten Island, N.Y., announced Friday that he would run for the congressional seat vacated by Michael G. Grimm, who pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion.
Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan Jr. said he decided to enter the race after noticing a groundswell of support for his candidacy over the last week.“The enthusiasm for my candidacy has only broadened and intensified, with expressions of support also from beyond the two boroughs,” he said in a brief statement Friday afternoon.
He is the first person to officially announce his candidacy for the seat, which serves Staten Island and part of Brooklyn.Grimm, a Republican, resigned from Congress this month after pleading guilty to a single charge that stemmed from a 20-count indictment accusing him of defrauding the Internal Revenue Service and concealing more than $1 million in revenue.
Categories
Mike Brown Politics

Awaiting Another Grand Jury Decision on Police Shooting of Unarmed Black Man

Another case, this time in Houston. The grand jury is out and a decision is expected anytime now.

Jordan Baker, who was 26 years old, was shot and killed by HPD officer Juventino Castro on Jan. 16.   He was shot in a northwest Houston strip center where a string of robberies had been reported.

HPD initially claimed Castro thought Baker was a robbery suspect and shot him when he charged the officer.

“My son was shot and killed for being in a place that he had every right to be in,” his mother, Janet Baker, said.

Protesters voiced their opinions about the local case which is similar to others happening across the country. The Houston Coalition for Justice says they see the writing on the wall.

“The pattern, there’s been 288 cases where there has not been an indictment of a police officer,” said Durrel Douglas,Houston Coalition for Justice.

Protesters said they would only be satisfied if there is a trial for Baker’s death.  Even then, they said they will continue to protest the system.

 

Categories
Politics

Death Threats to Al Sharpton – “Hey n—-r, stop killing innocent people, I’m going to get you!”

Of course this is the natural progression to how a civilized people solve their differences – call each other names and of course, threaten to kill each other.

In the wake of the shooting of two police officers on Saturday by a man who previously shot his girlfriend, Rev. Al Sharpton somehow became responsible, along with Mayor Bill De Blasio and yes, Barack Obama.

After the shooting, Sharpton, appearing alongside the wife and mother of Eric Garner, played a voicemail for reporters purportedly of a racist threat made against him.

“Hey n—-r, stop killing innocent people, I’m going to get you!” according to the barely audible recording.

The voice mail also included three f-bombs that went over live television in New York.

Sharpton also took umbrage with police union leaders who have blamed Mayor de Blasio for allegedly inciting violence against cops.

NYPD Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were gunned down in cold blood as they sat in their patrol car on Saturday in Brooklyn.

“To blame the mayor and others is not what we need,” Sharpton said. “The blame game will only lead to further kinds of venom and further division.”

Sharpton urged protesters and police critics to remain peaceful.

“If we go into an area where it’s eye for an eye, then it is only a matter of who can out pluck eyes rather than who can make the system fair for everybody,” he said.

Categories
Politics shooting

Eric Garner’s Daughter offers Support to Families of Slain Police Officers

Earlier this year, her father was killed when a police officer applied an illegal chokehold, causing the suffocating man to say, “I can’t breathe” eleven times before he died. A grand jury later ruled that the officer did nothing wrong, sparking outrage and protests nationwide.

But today, Emerald Garner came and spoke out in support of the families of two police officers who were executed by a crazed gunman on Saturday.

“I just had to come out and let their family know that we stand with them, and I’m going to send my prayers and condolences to all the families who are suffering through this tragedy,” she told ABC News. “I was never anti-police. Like I said before, I have family that’s in the NYPD that I’ve grown up around, family reunions and everything so my family you know, we’re not anti-police.”

And although the gunman implied that his execution – style murder of the officers was in retaliation to Eric Garner’s deatg, Emerald showed nothing but class as I’m sure she is still grieving her father’s death.

The New York police union and other leaders like Rudy Giuliani with their over-the-top foolish statements should take note on how decent human beings should behave.

Categories
cops Featured

Eric Garner’s Mother and Wife Denounced The Murder of NY Police Officers

Ignorant Rudy Giuliani and the New York police union were quick to cast blame for the murder of two New York police officers on President Obama, Al Sharpton, Mayor Bill DeBladio and even Eric Garner himself. But back in the land of reality, the family of the man police killed earlier this year denounced all violence against police officers and once again called for peace in their son’s name.

“Anyone who’s standing with us, we want you to not use Eric Garner’s name for violence because we are not about that,” Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr, told reporters. “I’m standing here in sorrow about losing those two police officers.”

The officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, were shot Saturday while sitting in their squad car. Investigators are examining social media posts by the gunman, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, suggesting that the killings were retaliation for the deaths of Garner and of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

“I’m putting wings on pigs today,” one post said. “They take 1 of ours … let’s take 2 of theirs.”

Protesters have marched in cities across the country since grand juries declined to indict the officer in the confrontation with Garner and the officer who shot Brown to death. Garner’s widow, Esaw, asked on Sunday that future protests remain peaceful.

“My husband was not a violent man,” she said. “We don’t want violence connected to his name.” She also expressed empathy for the families of the officers. “I know what they’re going through to lose a loved one right before the holidays,” she said.

Categories
Mike Brown Politics shooting

Ignorant Rudy Giuliani Blames Obama and Sharpton for Cop Shooting in Brooklyn

Ignorance, thy name is Rudy Giuliani.

Appearing on Fox News on Sunday, Rudy Giuliani did what he does best, divide people with his dumb, ignorant rhetoric.

Giuliani was brought on Fox to talk about the recent unfortunate shooting of two police officers in Brooklyn New York on Saturday, when he chose instead to cast blame on the president of the United States for apparently inciting Americans to protest the killings of black men like Eric Garner and Mike Brown.

Giuliani, for what it’s worth, disagreed with the police union’s mouthpiece, who claimed that New York’s mayor has “blood on his hands.” Giuliani instead offered this;

“I think it goes to far to blame the mayor for the murder or to ask for the mayor’s resignation,” Giuliani said.

He continued: “We’ve had four months of propaganda starting with the president that everybody should hate the police,” Giuliani said. “The protests are being embraced, the protests are being encouraged. The protests, even the ones that don’t lead to violence, a lot of them lead to violence, all lead to a conclusion. The police are bad, the police are racist. That is completely wrong.”

Giuliani added that leaders like Obama and Al Sharpton “have created an atmosphere of severe, strong, anti-police hatred in certain communities.”

You got that? When police shoot or kill unarmed men, no one should have anything to say about that. Don’t voice your opinion, don’t exercise your constitutional right to protest because if you do, then you “hate the police.”

Again, ignorance, thy name is Rudy Giuliani!

Categories
Mike Brown Politics

More Insanity – Two Police Officers Shot and Killed in Brooklyn New York

Like I couldn’t understand the murders of Mike Brown or Eric Garner or any other person killed by the people who were supposed to protect and serve them, I also cannot understand why anyone would kill a police officer or worse, two police officers who were doing nothing but sitting in their patrol car.

My confusion once again manifested itself after hearing about a gunman who walked up to two police officers sitting in their car in the BedSty section of Brooklyn New York, and murdered those officers in broad daylight before running off and taking his own life in a nearby subway station.

We are supposed to be better than this!

The shooting took place in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Both officers were rushed to Woodhull hospital, where one was pronounced dead, police said. The second officer was later pronounced dead at the hospital, according to a senior city official and a law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the shooting. They were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Authorities say the suspect fatally shot himself inside the station. His motive wasn’t immediately clear.

Categories
Politics

Indiana Cop Selling “Breathe Easy, Don’t Break The Law” T-Shirts

I guess it’s fitting that a police officer would be the one using insensitivity to profit from the unlawful deeds of another police officer. Given all that’s going on with these police officer you would think the goal would be to avoid more negative press. But you would be wrong to think that.

NBC News is reporting that an Indiana police officer who created T-shirts riffing on the “I can’t breathe” protest slogan isn’t backing down from selling the controversial garb.

The shirts read, “Breathe easy, don’t break the law” — an apparent reference to the last words uttered by unarmed New York City man Eric Garner during a fatal police chokehold in July. The words have since become a popular rallying cry at protests across the country.

Mishawaka police officer Jason Barthel began selling the shirts this week at a South Bend store he owns after a weekend protest at the University of Notre Dame. Members of Notre Dame’s women’s basketball team wore T-shirts before their Saturday game emblazoned with the “I can’t breathe” message.

Members of the South Bend City Council called on Barthel to stop selling his “Breathe Easy” shirts, and said in a statement that “the divisive message … that is being currently promoted through the sale of T-shirts bearing this message damages the goal of unity and further divides our community.”

For its part, Barthel’s store on Facebook won’t pull the shirts from shelves. “For those upset, please understand when we use the slogan ‘Breathe Easy’ we are referring to knowing the police are there for you!” the store said in a statement Monday.

Several calls to Barthel’s home and store went unanswered Friday, and the store’s voicemail was full. Geoffrey Spiess, attorney for the city of Mishawaka, said officials have no reason to take action on the issue because Barthel’s work with South Bend Uniform is done as a private citizen in his off-duty hours.

Categories
Politics

President Obama Praises LeBron James for Wearing “I Can’t Breathe” T-Shirt

In an interview with People Magazine, the President of the United States said that LeBron did the right thing when he wore the t-shirt before a recent basketball game in Brooklyn.

“You know, I think LeBron did the right thing,” the president said. “We forget the role that Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe and Bill Russell played in raising consciousness.”

James, in his own way, joined the nationwide protests of a grand jury decision not to indict a police officer who applied an illegal chokehold that resulted in the death of a Staten Island resident. After examining the deceased body, the coroner’s office ruled the death a “homicide.”

The president continued: “We went through a long stretch there where [with] well-paid athletes the notion was: just be quiet and get your endorsements and don’t make waves,” he said. “LeBron is an example of a young man who has, in his own way and in a respectful way, tried to say, ‘I’m part of this society, too’ and focus attention.”

Categories
BLM Mike Brown Racial profiling

Hillary Clinton – “Yes, black lives matter”

I was getting worried there. The silence coming from the Hillary camp in regards to the nationwide protects going on these days, was deafening. But on Tuesday, Speaking to an audience after receiving an award from The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights in New York, Hillary declared, “yes, black lives matter.”

I can’t Breathe.

She wondered what Robert Kennedy would say about “the thousands of Americans marching in our streets demanding justice for all,” and “the mothers who’ve lost their sons.”

“What would he say to all those who have lost trust in our government and our other institutions, who shudder at images of excessive force, who read reports about torture done in the name of our country, who see too many representatives in Washington quick to protect a big bank from regulation but slow to take action to help working families facing ever greater pressure,” Clinton said, pivoting to the release of a Senate report last week investigating the CIA’s interrogation techniques after 9/11.

Clinton said that recent world events, including the mass murder of children in Pakistan and the siege in Sydney, Australia, “should steel our resolve and underscore that our values are what set us apart from our adversaries.”

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