1199ers Rally For Justice for Eric Garner

July 20, 2015

The threat of rain didn’t dampen the passion for justice at a July 18 rally in Brooklyn that marked the one-year anniversary of Eric Garner’s death at the hands of New York City Police.

The event drew hundreds, including scores of 1199SEIU members, who gathered in front of the U.S. District Courthouse demanding justice and the federal prosecution of the officers involved in Garner’s death on July 17, 2014. #ICan’tBreathe and #BlackLivesMatter, shorthand for the movement against the epidemic killing of young Black men and women at the hands of police, were emblazoned on every kind of banner, sign, button and t-shirt.

“It’s a beautiful thing to see all kinds of people here— every color, race, creed and nationality standing up to say that Black Lives Matter,” said Tasha Fowler, a mailroom clerk at Brooklyn’s Brookdale Hospital. “But it has been one year and that cop hasn’t been indicted. He’s on desk duty. He’s still getting paid. That’s unacceptable.”

Speakers included New York City Council member Jumaane Williams, 1199SEIU EVP Estela Vasquez and Rev. Al Sharpton.

Rev. Sharpton’s remarks were a sharp reminder that the Garner family’s recent civil settlement with New York City was not acceptance.

“Money is not justice. New York did not donate something to these families,” he said. “This is settled in civil court, but it is not settled in the court of justice. It is not settled in the streets. It is not settled in the hearts of freedom fighters.”

Garner’s family members spoke and thanked supporters; his mother, Gwenn Carr, stood with several other mothers whose sons were killed by the police, including Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton and 1199SEIU member Constance Malcolm. Malcolm’s son Ramarley Graham was shot to death in 2013 by NYPD officer Richard Haste in front of Graham’s younger brother and grandmother.

“I don’t know what this country is coming to,” said Malcolm. “When a cop can break into your home and kill your kid. Ramarley deserves justice and I deserve answers.” Elaine Gibson, a home health aide with United Cerebral Palsy, said she came to the rally to fight the deterioration she sees in today’s society. That same day the Ku Klux Klan was holding a rally in Columbia, SC.

“We are going backwards with all of this hatred. There are things that cannot be tolerated. There are things that just cannot be done. We are going to let people know that we are not going to stand for that,” she said. “We are going to let people know that the law applies to everyone. You cannot murder people without consequences.”

The event was sponsored by 1199SEIU, 32BJ, the New York State Nurses Association, the National Action Network and others.

Follow the conversation on Twitter at #Rally4Justice.