While the lack of an indictment in the chokehold death of Staten Island's Eric Garner may have been exactly the same result that the people of Ferguson, Missouri faced in the shooting death of Michael Brown just one week earlier, the reaction has been profoundly different. Rather than lashing out in one night of mayhem like Ferguson did, supporters of Garner have truly taken a peaceful approach to protesting and his family couldn't be more grateful to see that kind of support from complete strangers.
Gwen Carr, Garner's mother, has asked people to "keep on doing it, but do it in peace" and that seems to be the plan. Saturday was the fourth day of marches, protests, sit-ins and die-ins over the grand jury's decision not to indict officer Daniel Pantaleo. The case sparked fury earlier this week when not a single charge was filed against Pantaleo in spite of having video which showed the entire altercation and a coroner's report that declared the death a homicide due to pressure on both sides of the neck (chokehold).
Garner's widow, Esaw Garner has been brought to tears by the amount of love that complete strangers have shown for her husband and she is obviously holding out hope that a higher office will decide to take action. While the grand jury may have seen no reason to charge Pantaleo, the Department of Justice is now taking another look at this case which means that there's a chance he will still face some kind of action or accountability.
A little over 200 people were arrested last night in NYC out of thousands that protested by walking the West Side Highway, through Times Square and in various other areas of the city. That ratio is incredibly small by comparison and it shows that people are really wanting to keep things as civilized as possible. Do you think that days of a peaceful protest combined with a federal office taking another look at this case will somehow bring some sort of justice for Garner? Should the outcome be different? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
