In another shocking blow to the current police brutality issues happening in the United States, yesterday, a grand jury chose not to indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo who choked Eric Garner, 43 to death in a scuffle with police in July of this year in Staten Island, New York despite video evidence of the event taking place and chokeholds being banned under New York Police Department policy.
The decision sparked protests throughout New York with protesters gathering in Manhattan landmarks such as Union Square, Grand Central Station and Rockerfeller Center lying down with the words “I can’t breathe” inscribed on signs and placards, the last words uttered by Mr. Garner before he died.
The decision comes after the decision not to indict officer Darren Wilson over the shooting of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri which saw protests and worldwide condemnation of police brutality in North America.