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Black Lives Matter Protesters Mark 5-Year Anniversary of Eric Garner's Death

Leslie Bonilla

   WASHINGTON - On a tree-lined sidewalk in front of the entrance to the
   Department of Justice headquarters, protesters raised signs and carried
   flags to protest the death of Eric Garner, an unarmed African American
   man who died in 2014 in an altercation with police.

   The federal government has until Wednesday to file charges against
   Daniel Pantaleo, the officer accused of killing Garner, and any of the
   other New York City police officers involved in the arrest. If not, it
   will lose the chance. The statute of limitations on the case expires
   July 17.

   About 25 protesters chanted, "I can't breathe," Garner's last words, at
   the rally Monday.

   Garner, whom police alleged was selling loose cigarettes, died after
   Pantaleo put him in an apparent chokehold, which the police force has
   banned, on a Staten Island street.

   Video went viral

   A video of Garner, with Pantaleo's arm around his neck and three other
   officers holding him down, went viral. His death sparked waves of
   protests against police brutality, his last words plastered across
   signs and T-shirts, and written about in numerous news articles.

   Pantaleo denies using inappropriate force in arresting Garner. His
   lawyer alleges Pantaleo instead used a different restraint technique.

   Since the video was released, "Eric has died a million times over.
   America has watched Eric Garner die a million times over," said Hawk
   Newsome, chairman of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, which
   hosted Monday's event.

   If the DOJ lets the statute expire, Newsome said, his group would "shut
   down New York City." When asked how, he said, "Whatever it takes, by
   any means necessary."

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