By Gregg McQueen
“I am going to stand outside, and I am going to scream it.”
Emerald Garner’s voice then rose sharply.
“Pantaleo needs to be fired! Pantaleo needs to be fired!”
Garner, daughter of Eric Garner, was blunt as she spoke directly after learning of the Department of Justice’s decision on Tues., July 16th that, upon concluding its five-year investigation, it would not bring civil rights or criminal charges against New York Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo.
“There is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the police officers who arrested Eric Garner acted in violation of the federal criminal civil rights act,” said Richard P. Donoghue, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, during a press conference held after the announcement.
But protestors echoed Emerald Garner’s call as they gathered in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday, demanding justice in the 2014 death of her father, who was killed by a police chokehold.
Held on the fifth anniversary of Garner’s death, the rally drew several hundred people to Foley Square, who then marched past City Hall despite scorching temperatures.
Read more: New Yorkers call for justice in Garner death | Manhattan Times
Related: Op-Led: I Still Can’t Breathe
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