After news that the grand jury in her husband’s death had refused to indict the officer who killed Eric Garner following an altercation in New York City, his wife said ‘hell no’ to the apology and condolence statement issued by Daniel Pantaleo.
Garner died following a confrontation with NYC cops, during which one officer put him in a chokehold, which allegedly prevented the man from breathing and resulted in his death a few moments later. A grand jury was examining the evidence and, on Wednesday afternoon, decided not to indict the officer.
During a press conference arranged by the Reverend Al Sharpton following the controversial announcement, Esaw Garner, Eric Garner’s wife , lashed out at Pantaleo and his regret, refusing to accept his condolences.
“H***, no. He’s still working, he’s still getting a paycheck, he’s still feeding his kids, and my husband is six feet under.”
“He should be here celebrating Christmas and Thanksgiving and everything else with his children and grandchildren. And he can’t. Why? Because a cop did wrong. Who is going to play Santa Claus for my grandkids?”
Thousands took to the streets of New York City to protest what they see as an injustice in the case of Eric Garner’s death , the 43-year-old African American man who died in Staten Island. In a video captured by Ramsey Orta, Garner’s friend, with his cell phone, Garner is seen standing on the street when officers approach him. He subsequently resists arrest and NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo puts the suspect in a chokehold, which has not been permitted by the Police Department since 1993.
Garner was allegedly selling lose cigarettes in front of businesses and cops arrived after owners called for the man to be removed. Even though Eric Garner’s wife did not welcome or appreciate Pantaleo’s remorseful statement, his mother, Gwen Carr, called for calm and talked about the deadly incident.
“Yeah, we want you to rally, but rally in peace. Make a statement, but make it in peace. Do what you have to, but do it in peace.”
“I am truly disappointed in the grand jury’s decision this evening. I don’t know what video they were looking at it wasn’t the same one that the rest of the world was looking at. How could we put our trust in the justice system when they fail us like this?”
The decision on Eric Garner’s case comes just as Ferguson, Missouri, is recovering from violent protests after white police officer, Darren Wilson, killed Michael Brown , a black teen, for allegedly charging at him when he was asked to surrender. In that case, a grand jury similarly refused to indict the officer.
Do you think Eric Garner’s wife should accept Daniel Pantaleo’s apology?
[Image via Twitter]
