Federal prosecutors recommend civil rights charges in the 2014 death of Eric Garner

In 2014, Eric Garner died in Staten Island when a police officer used a chokehold to subdue him after stopping him on the street for suspicion of selling untaxed cigarettes. The cell phone footage of the tragic incident, in which the unarmed Garner can be seen saying “I can’t breathe,” inspired protests across the country and ignited an important national conversation about police brutality. But four years later, Garner’s family is still waiting for justice in court.

A state grand jury declined to indict Daniel Pantaleo, the officer who used the chokehold, on criminal charges a few months after Garner’s death. In recent weeks, federal prosecutors have recommended civil rights charges against the police officer, who has been on desk duty since shortly after the incident, according to The New York Times. However, it’s still unclear whether the Justice Department will allow the prosecutors to seek an indictment. Both Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions are expected to weigh in on the request. An unnamed law enforcement official told the Times the charges weren’t likely to be approved, though.

The federal investigation into Garner’s death has lasted longer than four years. During the final months of the Obama administration, then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch agreed with her civil rights chief, Vanita Gupta, and “authorized prosecutors to build a case for indictment,” the Times reported.

https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/987385339785379840

The case is likely to face an uphill battle in the Sessions-led Justice Department. As the Times pointed out, Sessions has rolled back many Obama-era policies meant to make it easier for federal investigators to review excessive force and curb racial profiling by law enforcement officers and agencies. Should he deny the request for indictment, it could be seen as an unwillingness to let the Justice Department address police abuse.

Activists on Twitter showed support for bringing federal civil rights charges against Officer Pantaleo, but also expressed anger at the yearslong delay in the Eric Garner case.

https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/987399019025653760

NYT reported DOJ *still* deciding whether to charge Daniel Pantaleo for killing #EricGarner. This isn't news, it's 4 years of inexcusable delays

Here's what Eric's mom said in response -calling on both DOJ & de Blasio to ACT & stop playing political games w/the murder of her son pic.twitter.com/0JkcZ8lUdQ

— Joo-Hyun Kang 강주현 (@JooHyun_Kang) April 21, 2018

Still outraged after 4 years. A white mob would have stormed the precinct and strung up a hypothetical black cop if the black cop choked a white man to death. They would have labeled the black cop a goon and unfit to serve and they would have taken their justice. #EricGarner

— M109kan (@kantargi) April 21, 2018

Career civil rights prosecutors at @TheJusticeDept once again recommend pursuing charges against the officer who killed #EricGarner. It's time to act on that recommendation to ensure accountability in this needless and tragic case and to bring the Garner family some closure. https://t.co/5r01VxTl3p

— Legal Defense Fund (@NAACP_LDF) April 21, 2018

It doesn't matter if it can be won. It needs to be brought to trial to have the defendant justify why he turned selling untaxed cigarettes into a capital crime. Without due process. Pantaleo's overreach did exactly that & he needs to be held accountable. #EricGarner https://t.co/HQURfLDjaS

— Henri (@hsmithson_) April 20, 2018

Can everyone retweet this and make this happen??!!

THIS IS TOO IMPORTANT TO IGNORE.

Remember when Pantaleo smiled & waved at the camera after choking Eric Garner? This man is still a cop.#IndictPantaleo #DanielPantaleo #Justice #EricGarner https://t.co/JncFbB5YVG

— Caitlin (@ThereWillBStars) April 20, 2018

#RodRosenstein has the most importance decision of his life to make: will he follow federal civil rights prosecutors' recommended charges against #NYPD Officer #DanielPantaleo for murdering #EricGarner or support white supremacy and police brutality? https://t.co/yK14a1ELmB

— Micah Institute (@MicahInstitute) April 21, 2018

All these people who say that victims deserved 'X brutal excessive force' because they didn't obey authority. Like what system of punishment do you ascribe to that allows someone to be sentenced to death for allegedly not listening? #justiceforGarner #EricGarner #BlackLivesMatter

— SolidarityisStrength (@Propelkindness) April 21, 2018

Eric Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr, said she has yet to hear from the Justice Department about potential charges related to her son’s death.

“I haven’t heard anything,” she said Friday, according to the Times. “I’m hopeful. But we’ll never know until there’s a decision.”