Protests in US over chokehold death case

Grand jury decision not to indict white policeman who killed
black Eric Garner in New York City in July sparks
outrage.
Protests have been held in US cities after a grand jury
decided not to indict a white police officer in the videotaped
chokehold death of an unarmed black man who had been
stopped on suspicion of selling loose , untaxed cigarettes .
In New York City, angry crowds gathered on Wednesday
in Manhattan and Staten Island , near the site where Eric
Garner was killed on July 17.
Police said early on Thursday that more than 60 people
have been arrested , most for disorderly conduct .
Garner' s father Ben sought to keep demonstrations non -
violent, telling one angry bystander : "Let' s keep the peace,
we all are hurting. "
The decision not to indict Officer Daniel
Pantaleo threatened to add to the tensions that have
simmered in the city since Garner ' s death - a case that
sparked outrage and drew comparisons to the fatal police
shooting of 18 - year -old Michael Brown in Missouri .

As with Brown ' s death in the St Louis suburb of
Ferguson, the Garner case sparked accusations of racist
policing and calls for federal prosecutors to intervene.
'Blatant racism '
Immediately after the announcement of the grand jury ' s
decision, protesters gathered in Staten Island , expressing
dismay over what they alleged was a lack of justice .
"I think the justice system keeps protecting white people , "
Robert Copeland , 32, told Al Jazeera . " This is the most
blatant racism I ' ve ever seen since I' ve been alive.
President Barack Obama said the grand jury decision
underscores the need to strengthen the trust and
accountability between communities and law enforcement .
The US Justice Department will conduct a federal
investigation into Garner' s death , US Attorney
General Eric Holder announced on Wednesday evening.
The New York Police Department also is doing an internal
probe which could lead to administrative charges against
Pantaleo, who remains on desk duty.
The developments in the Garner case come just a week after
a grand jury in St Louis decided not to indict the white
police officer who shot Brown, which prompted
violent protests .
Unlike in Ferguson , demonstrations in New York have
remained peaceful .
Die- in protest
At the Grand Central Station in Manhattan , activists
organised a silent die-in protest action on Wednesday.
The protesters laid motionless on the ground in the main hall
of the transit hub during rush hour . Police stood by, some
carrying flexcuffs in preparation for potential arrests .
While most of the protesters closed their eyes and remained
silent during the action, some participants spoke to reporters
and passersby.
"Don ' t allow racist cops to join the force , " Soraya
SoiFree, 45 , told Al Jazeera , laying on the marble floor.
"And rookies need to be better trained . . . This is a human
rights issue . "
At nearby Times Square, hundreds of protesters blocking
walkways chanted over and over in unison : "Help ! Help !
Can ' t Breathe !" - the words used by Garner as he was
choked.
Videotaped chokehold
The grand jury could have considered a range of charges,
from a murder charge to a lesser offence like reckless
endangerment.
Several black people have been killed this year and each of
their killers got away scot- free . That sends a loud message
to black people .
Robert Copeland , protester
A video shot by an onlooker and widely viewed on the
Internet showed the 43-year -old Garner telling a group of
police officers to leave him alone as they tried to arrest him .
Pantaleo responded by wrapping his arm around Garner' s
neck in an apparent chokehold , which is banned under
NYPD policy . The heavyset Garner, who had asthma , was
heard repeatedly gasping , "I can' t breathe !''
A second video surfaced that showed police and paramedics
appearing to make no effort to revive Garner while he lay
motionless on the ground . He later died at a hospital .
The medical examiner ruled Garner' s death a homicide and
found that a chokehold contributed to it .
Dr Michael Baden, agreed with those findings, saying there
was haemorrhaging on Garner ' s neck indicative of neck
compressions .
Police union officials and Pantaleo ' s lawyer have argued
that the officer used a takedown move taught by the police
department, not a chokehold, because he was resisting arrest
and that Garner' s poor health was the main reason he died .
Wilson Dizard and Amel Ahmed in New York City
contributed to this report

Source:Aljazeeratv