Protesters Stage Die-In At Grand Central Terminal Over Eric Garner Decision
December 3, 2014 5:47 PM
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Protesters organized an impromptu “die-in” at Grand Central Station late Tuesday afternoon, following a decision by a grand jury not to indict an NYPD officer involved in the apparent chokehold death of Eric Garner.
The protest was organized via social media under the hashtag #ThisStopsToday, and was in progress as the evening rush got under way, CBS2 reported. About 30 people participated.
A large police presence was seen at the railway terminal in advance of the protest, CBS2’s Tony Aiello reported. There had been no arrests as of 5 p.m.
Sources told Aiello that police at Grand Central would be “hands off” any protesters unless they impeded trains or got rowdy.
Many commuters stopped to look at the protest as they passed through the terminal.
“It seems a little troubling with the circumstances,” one man said.
“They’re trying to express a message, and obviously with the attention they’re drawing here, they’re getting the message across,” another man said.
“The relations between the cops and the public is very, very serious here,” a third man said.
Garner, a 43-year-old father of six, died in July after police officers attempted to arrest him for allegedly selling loose, untaxed cigarettes in the Tompkinsville section of Staten Island.
A Staten Island grand jury on Wednesday declined to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who put Garner in the apparent chokehold.
In addition to the Garner case, the Staten Island protesters were also protesting against the decision last week not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting that killed Michael Brown, 18, in Ferguson, Missouri.
Protesters also took to the streets in Tompkinsville, Staten Island where the Garner incident happened. As 1010 WINS’ Holli Haerr reported, several people chanted, “I can’t breathe,” which Garner was heard saying after he was taken down in the apparent chokehold.
Some people at the Staten Island protest said they felt Pantaleo got away with murder.
“They killed him twice today. That’s the second time they killed him. Eric Garner – I was sitting there when he died,” one man said.
“I’m not surprised. I’m just in shock,” a woman said. “I was hoping that I wouldn’t be in shock. I was hoping that it would come out in our favor.”
Another woman erupted with emotion as she talked with WCBS 880’s Peter Haskell.
“This is a disgrace, a disgrace,” she said. “The coroner said he contributed to that man’s death.”
Tears rolled down the woman’s cheeks as furious words poured from her mouth.
“There ain’t no justice if we, if you’re black,” she said. “You only get justice if you’re white.”
Some people at the Staten Island protest said they felt like targets, and that police are allowed to do whatever they want.
A couple dozen people were also seen protesting in Times Square late Wednesday afternoon.
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| Protest against the grand jury decision not to indict white cop in the killing of Eric Garner. The demonstration took place at Grand Central Station on Dec. 3, 2014. |
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Protesters organized an impromptu “die-in” at Grand Central Station late Tuesday afternoon, following a decision by a grand jury not to indict an NYPD officer involved in the apparent chokehold death of Eric Garner.
The protest was organized via social media under the hashtag #ThisStopsToday, and was in progress as the evening rush got under way, CBS2 reported. About 30 people participated.
A large police presence was seen at the railway terminal in advance of the protest, CBS2’s Tony Aiello reported. There had been no arrests as of 5 p.m.
Sources told Aiello that police at Grand Central would be “hands off” any protesters unless they impeded trains or got rowdy.
Many commuters stopped to look at the protest as they passed through the terminal.
“It seems a little troubling with the circumstances,” one man said.
“They’re trying to express a message, and obviously with the attention they’re drawing here, they’re getting the message across,” another man said.
“The relations between the cops and the public is very, very serious here,” a third man said.
Garner, a 43-year-old father of six, died in July after police officers attempted to arrest him for allegedly selling loose, untaxed cigarettes in the Tompkinsville section of Staten Island.
A Staten Island grand jury on Wednesday declined to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who put Garner in the apparent chokehold.
In addition to the Garner case, the Staten Island protesters were also protesting against the decision last week not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting that killed Michael Brown, 18, in Ferguson, Missouri.
Protesters also took to the streets in Tompkinsville, Staten Island where the Garner incident happened. As 1010 WINS’ Holli Haerr reported, several people chanted, “I can’t breathe,” which Garner was heard saying after he was taken down in the apparent chokehold.
Some people at the Staten Island protest said they felt Pantaleo got away with murder.
“They killed him twice today. That’s the second time they killed him. Eric Garner – I was sitting there when he died,” one man said.
“I’m not surprised. I’m just in shock,” a woman said. “I was hoping that I wouldn’t be in shock. I was hoping that it would come out in our favor.”
Another woman erupted with emotion as she talked with WCBS 880’s Peter Haskell.
“This is a disgrace, a disgrace,” she said. “The coroner said he contributed to that man’s death.”
Tears rolled down the woman’s cheeks as furious words poured from her mouth.
“There ain’t no justice if we, if you’re black,” she said. “You only get justice if you’re white.”
Some people at the Staten Island protest said they felt like targets, and that police are allowed to do whatever they want.
A couple dozen people were also seen protesting in Times Square late Wednesday afternoon.
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