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“Black Lives Matter,” again: New Yorkers protest Eric Garner decision

by Jenée Desmond-Harris

Just hours after the announcement that Daniel Pantaleo, the NYPD officer involved in the chokehold death of Eric Garner, would not be indicted, New Yorkers began protesting the decision, as well as larger issues of police misconduct against African Americans.

Wednesday evening, Twitter users shared images of demonstrators in Times Square and at Grand Central Station, staging a "die-in" and holding signs reading "black lives matter."

The announcement of the grand jury's decision in Pantaleo's case came in the wake of the November 24 news that Ferguson, Missouri, police officer Darren Wilson would walk free after killing 18-year-old Michael Brown in August. That grand jury decision — similarly criticized for representing unchecked police violence against unarmed African-Americans — led to violent protests in Ferguson and ongoing peaceful demonstrations across the nation. Today's protests appeared to be fueled by the momentum and organization of the Ferguson response, repeating the "die-in" technique and echoing the "black lives matter" rallying cry of those who demanded justice for Brown.

Further reading: NYPD officer who killed Eric Garner in chokehold won't face criminal charges.

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