Last night, Jan. 19, a fire on Staten Island destroyed the makeshift tribute that was created for Eric Garner. His chokehold death attracted national attention and, when the police officer responsible was not indicted, it led to protests, tributes and commentary from across the country. Late last night, Garner's daughter Erica Garner began tweeting about the "evil" that had taken place at her father's memorial. It is obvious that the passing months have not eased the emotional upset his family has been through.
According to Vocativ, the fire came hours after a vigil had been held.
"Just hours earlier, Rev. Al Sharpton and the Garner family led a candlelight vigil of over 100 people in Tompkinsville, the location of Eric Garner's fatal encounter with police in July of last year — one of many gatherings at which Erica Garner and Sharpton appeared. Sharpton also laid wreaths at the Brooklyn cemetery where the NYPD police officers who were slain in an ambush in December are buried," said the report.
Erica has said that the Martin Luther King Jr. Day fire is the work of an arsonist, but other news outlets have said that, according to the NYPD, a candle left at the memorial accidentally came into contact with another object, lighting up the whole thing. According to Erica, shop owners near where her father's tribute was have asked for no more candles because it puts their properties at risk.
Readers: What do you make of the situation? Do you think this fire was the work of an arsonist, or was it an accident that can easily happen when you have an open flame on a windy sidewalk? Did you attend the vigil or the wreath-laying ceremony? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below.
