Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) will urge the Department of Justice to investigate the death of Eric Garner in response to the news on Wednesday that the police officer involved in the chokehold incident resulting in Garner’s death wouldn’t be charged.
Gillibrand’s office released a statement quoting her saying she was “shocked” and would push for the Department of Justice to investigate the incident.
Here’s the full statement:
While this decision is shocking, I want to echo the statement of a wide range of leaders inside and outside of government who are urging that protests remain peaceful in the aftermath of this decision. The death of Eric Garner is a tragedy that demands accountability. Nobody unarmed should die on a New York City street corner for suspected low-level offenses. I’m shocked by this grand jury decision, and will be calling on the Department of Justice to investigate.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) also tweeted a similar statement.
The Justice Department must launch a Federal investigation into Eric Garner’s death as soon as possible. -cs
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 3, 2014
This post has been updated.
Color me jaded, but this won’t make a difference even if the Justice Department investigates. Every cop who gets away with murder makes it that much easier to get away with it the next time it happens.
Meanwhile, Senator Shmuck Chumer (D-NYC) believes that we should fix the economy first, before calling on the DOJ to investigate.
Good for Senator Gillibrand!
And you are absolutely spot on.
“Nobody unarmed should die on a New York City street corner for suspected low-level offenses.” That this even needs to be said is pathetic. But it does need to be said, so thank you, Sen. Gillibrand.
The more I listen to what Gillibrand says, the more I like her.