Justice for Eric Garner

On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner was killed on a Staten Island sidewalk after being placed in an NYPD-banned chokehold by Officer Daniel Pantaleo, during a false and illegal arrest while Eric pleaded "I can't breathe" eleven times. The killing, captured on video, showed many officers who used force in the unlawful arrest and many failed to intervene or provide aid. NYPD officials and officers also attempted to cover up the killing, first claiming that Garner died of a heart attack, illegally leaking sealed records to criminalize Mr. Garner, and lying on official reports. 

In August 2019, after five long years of obstruction and refusal by Mayor Bill de Blasio and the NYPD to take action, and tireless organizing by Gwen Carr, Eric Garner's mother, Ellisha Flagg Garner, Garner's sister, the Garner family, and community organizers, Officer Daniel Pantaleo, was finally fired. His firing followed a CCRB prosecuted disciplinary trial that concluded in June 2019 which found that Officer Pantaleo violated Department procedures such as the decades-long ban on the chokehold maneuver.

In August 2019, Eric Garner's mother, sister, and Ramarley Graham's mother, along with CPR members, announced a petition to the New York Supreme Court. The petition demanded a judicial inquiry into the violations and neglect of duty by Mayor Bill de Blasio, his administration, and others related to the unjust killing of Eric Garner, the cover-up that continues to this day, and the corresponding failure to discipline officers for misconduct in a meaningful or timely manner.

Mayor de Blasio responded to petitioners by filing a motion to dismiss the petition. New York State Supreme Court Judge Joan A. Madden heard arguments in the city's motion to dismiss in August 2020. 

On September 24, 2020, six years after the killing of Eric Garner, Justice  Madden ruled in petitioners’ favor in their request for a judicial inquiry. The judge ruled that a public judicial inquiry into potential violations and neglect of duty by the de Blasio administration, including former NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill, and other top police officials arising from the death of Eric Garner, could proceed.

Unhappy with the court’s decision, the City tried to block the petition by filing a notice of appeal and by attempting to argue that there was an automatic stay to all further proceedings before the Supreme Court while the City’s appeal was pending. In December 2020, Justice Madden rejected the City’s arguments, once again allowing proceedings related to the inquiry to move forward, unless the City won a stay from an appeals court.  

On February 12, 2021, the City filed a motion with the Appellate Division, First Department, the appeals court, seeking to stay the judicial inquiry. On March 23, 2021, the First Department denied this request. The First Department heard the appeal on May 25, 2021, and denied the appeal on July 15, 2021.

Following Justice Madden’s retirement from the bench, Justice Erika M. Edwards was assigned to preside over the case.

In addition to the petition brought under Section 1109, the Gwen Carr, the Justice Committee, and Communities United for Police Reform submitted a Freedom of Information Law request to the NYPD and the Civilian Complaint Review Board relating to Mr. Garner’s arrest and killing, 

In October 2021, the judicial inquiry began in New York State Supreme Court on October 25, 2021, and lasted for approximately two weeks, until November 5, 2021.

During the inquiry, we learned that NYPD Deputy Commissioner Joseph Reznick, who was in charge of the investigation of the killing, did not investigate illegal leaks of Eric Garner’s medical or sealed criminal legal records. Officer Justin Damico lied on official NYPD reports and Lt. Christopher Bannon texted it was “not a big deal” that Eric might be DOA (dead on arrival).

Parties to the petition include Gwen Carr, Ellisha Flagg Garner, Constance Malcolm, mother of Ramarley Graham, Loyda Colon of Justice Committee, Joo-Hyun Kang of Communities United for Police Reform, Monifa Bandele of MomsRising, Kesi Foster of Make the Road, and Mark Winston Griffith of Brooklyn Movement Center. They were represented by Alvin Bragg, Gideon Oliver, and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

Help uplift the demands of Eric Garner’s family:

  • That ALL NYPD officers and officials who engaged in misconduct related to the killing of Eric Garner be held accountable and fired from the NYPD.
  • For full access to ALL NYPD and CCRB records of the case.

News on Eric Garner

BREAKING NEWS: Mother of Eric Garner Addresses DOJ Refusal to Bring Charges Against NYPD Officer Who Killed Her Son

New York, NY – One day before the fifth anniversary of the unjust killing of Eric Garner, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) refused to bring federal charges against Garner’s killer, NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo. Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr, and sister, Ellisha Flagg-Garner, will address the DOJ decision in a 1:00 p.m. press conference on the steps of City Hall.

'We are fighting for justice': Protesters call for firing of NYPD officers at 'We are Eric Garner' rally

Video still of Gwen Carr addressing crowd at youth-led action on fifth anniversary of her son Eric Garner's killing
07/17/2019
USA Today

NEW YORK – Hundreds of youth organizers carrying coffins and posters marched Wednesday at Foley Park, calling for Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York Police Department to fire all officers involved in the chaotic arrest and death of Eric Garner.

The "We are Eric Garner" rally, held on the five-year anniversary of Garner's death, followed Tuesday’s decision by the Department of Justice to not pursue civil rights charges against NYPD officer David Pantaleo, who put the 43-year-old black man in a chokehold.

Statement by Gwen Carr, Mother of Eric Garner, After Meeting with Mayor de Blasio

New York, NY - Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, condemned the decision not to convict Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the unjust killing of her son. Carr is calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio to hold the NYPD accountable, which includes firing Pantaleo and other officers responsible for misconduct. On Thursday, July 18, Carr spoke to de Blasio in a meeting. She issued the following statement:  

Statement by Gwen Carr, Mother of Eric Garner:

Family Members of Eric Garner and Others Killed by NYPD Join Advocacy Organizations to Push Charter Revision Commission to Support Police Accountability Proposals for November Ballot

New York, NY – The Charter Revision Commission is facing increasing pressure from family members of Eric Garner and others killed by the NYPD to adopt police accountability proposals.

Chokeholds and Police Abuse, Kept From the Public

There’s still time for New York legislators to repeal the law that keeps police records secret.
Gwen Carr, Eric Garner’s mother, outside One Police Plaza last week.CreditKarsten Moran for The New York Times
06/12/2019
New York Times

An administrative judge will decide soon whether New York Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo should be fired for using a prohibited chokehold that led to the death of Eric Garner and waves of protestover police brutality five years ago.

Whatever her decision, the public may never know about it.

Communities United for Police Reform Slams Mayor de Blasio for His Recent Comments on NYPD Officer’s "Not a Big Deal" Text Responding to News of the Killing of Eric Garner that Surfaced This Week

New York, NY – Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), a leading voice for racial justice and police accountability in New York City, released the following statement today slamming Mayor de Blasio for his hypocrisy in relation to new text messages from an NYPD officer related to the killing of Eric Garner that surfaced this week.

Police Accountability Advocates Applaud NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson for Calling for Repeal of 50-a, New York’s Harmful Police Secrecy Law

New York –  Police accountability advocates and organizers today applauded New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson for calling for the repeal of 50-a, New York’s harmful police secrecy law. 50-a is a controversial and widely criticized state law that advocates and elected officials are seeking to repeal in the current legislative session. It has been used to block the release of crucial information about misconduct committed by police officers and what, if any, disciplinary consequences they have faced for their actions.

Police Accountability Advocates: At Pantaleo Trial Today, NYPD Inspector Confirmed that a Prohibited Chokehold Was Used to Kill Eric Garner

New York, NY – Police accountability organizers present at NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo’s trial today said testimony from a key NYPD witness confirmed that a chokehold unequivocally prohibited by the NYPD for over 20 years was used to kill Eric Garner.

“Pantaleo’s entire legal defense was discredited today by NYPD Inspector Dee. Pantaleo’s lawyers have been falsely claiming that Pantaleo didn't use a chokehold when he killed Eric Garner. But as the NYPD Inspector noted today in trial, not only were chokeholds banned without exception at the time Eric was choked and killed, so-called "seatbelt maneuvers" were not even taught when Pantaleo was in the police academy, or when he went through plainclothes officer training,” said Loyda Colon, Co-Director of the Justice Committee and a spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR).

“I’m Tired of the Lies. We All Saw the Truth On Video”: In New Statement, Gwen Carr, Eric Garner’s Mother, Reacts to First Day of Pantaleo's Trial

New York, NY – Gwen Carr, Eric Garner’s mother, released the following statement after experiencing the first day of the NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo’s trial for killing Garner: 

“Today was very hard. My family and I had to sit through Pantaleo's attorneys try to blame my son Eric Garner for his own murder.  I'm tired of the lies and misdirection from Daniel Pantaleo’s lawyers. Today we heard the truth - my son was murdered during an illegal arrest. He had just broken up a fight. The police who claim he was selling loosies have been lying all along, just like we've said. They can call Pantaleo's chokehold whatever fancy term they want to try to confuse people; it doesn't matter – because the facts and the video speak for themselves,” said Ms. Carr.

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