“We, the NYC Council’s Black, Latino & Asian Caucus and members of the NYS Black, Hispanic and Asian Caucus, stand united in calling on Mayor de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner Bratton and Staten Island District Attorney Donovan for a full and swift investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of Eric Garner,” began Northeast Bronx Council Member Andy King. “We also ask that both the Mayor and the Commissioner work jointly with the NYC Council and NYS legislature to address NYPD practices impacting public safety in communities of color.”On Tuesday morning, Bronx Council Members Andy King, Vanessa Gibson and Ritchie Torres stood with other members of the Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, offering their perspectives on how to move forward and properly address the tragic death of Eric Garner at the hands of a member of the NYPD in Staten Island last week.
“I am profoundly saddened by the death of Eric Garner and extend my sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones,” said Councilman Ritchie Torres. “That this father and grandfather was placed in a chokehold, a police maneuver banned decades ago, and lost his life while he was reportedly breaking up a fight, further deepens the extent of this tradedy.”
Torres brought up an event decades ago that first brought the issue of chokeholds into the public conciousness.
“It’s been nearly 20 years since a fellow Bronxite – Anthony Baez was killed by the fatal use of illegal chokehold. Despite public outcry then, in the last five years the CCRB has logged 1022 complains of chokeholds by NYPD. We must put an end to hyper-eforcement of minor infractions. The District Attorney should immediately convene a Grand Jury investigation of the incident so that all officers involved are held fully accountable.”
Councilman King also stressed one positive, that police commissioner Bill Bratton “has done a marvelous job so far.” (as quoted in Capital NY by one of this journalist’s favorite journalists Azi Paybarah)
Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson. Photo via Facebook (c/o Robert Cornegy)
Vanessa Gibson, chair of the Council’s Public Safety committee, has taken a substantive role in the past few days, attending vigils and outreach events in Staten Island and around the city, and gave a powerful speech at the National Action Network on Saturday morning. (You can read and watch it here.)
She had emphasized the universality of the issue that while it was Mr. Garner who was victimized, “…as easily as he may have lived in Staten Island, could have lived in the Bronx, could have been my father, my brother, my uncle, and so I take this personal.”^
On Tuesday morning, Bronx Council Members Andy King, Vanessa Gibson and Ritchie Torres stood with other members of the Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, offering their perspectives on how to move forward and properly address the tragic death of Eric Garner at the hands of a member of the NYPD in Staten Island last week.
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