- Title: Garner family 'playing the waiting game' on DOJ investigation results
- Date: 21st June 2017
- Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF SHOP WHERE ERIC GARNER HAD ALTERCATION WITH POLICE AND DIED VARIOUS OF MEMORIAL OUTSIDE THE SHOP SIGN READING: ERIC GARNER MEMORIAL OUTSIDE OF STORE / PROTESTERS PROTESTERS CHANTING (English): 'I CAN'T BREATHE' PROTESTERS DESCENDING ESCALATORS CHANTING (English): 'SHUT IT DOWN'
- Embargoed: 5th July 2017 22:06
- Keywords: Eric Garner police Staten Island I can't breathe Al Sharpton
- Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice
- Reuters ID: LVA0026M83TJB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights leader from New York, said at a news conference in New York on Wednesday (June 21) that the U.S. Department of Justice will continue to examine the case of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man whose 2014 death at the hands of New York City police sparked protests.
Sharpton made the comments in a news conference following a meeting between the Garner family and DOJ officials. The Justice Department declined to comment on the meeting.
"The bad news is we were not told that they're going to move forward with the prosecution," Sharpton said. "The good news is they said this case is alive and it is not closed. That's the best we can get."
Garner died in July 2014 after a white police officer put him in a chokehold. The Justice Department's probe into his death has been stalled by internal disagreements over whether federal investigators have enough evidence to proceed, according to news reports.
Garner, a father of six, was accused of illegally selling cigarettes on a sidewalk when an officer put him in a chokehold from behind and brought him down with the help of other officers. Garner complained repeatedly that he could not breathe.
"Once again we're going to be playing the waiting game," said Gwen Carr, Garner's mother.
"We came here today for answers but evidently we are still without knowing whether we are going to get justice or not. But we have to hold these police officers accountable and transparent because we shouldn't have to wait like this. It is frustrating. Other cases have been solved that came after us and we are still waiting."
The city medical examiner ruled Garner's death a homicide, with asthma and obesity as contributing factors. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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