No justice for Eric Garner either

[AdmiralViscen]

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nypd-chokehold-death-grand-jury-votes-not-to-charge-cop-in-eric-garner-case/

NEW YORK -- A grand jury has declined to indict a New York City police officer who used an apparent chokehold on a man who died after the confrontation on Staten Island, CBS News has confirmed.

Eric Garner, a father of six, died in July after police officer Daniel Pantaleo attempted to arrest him for allegedly selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.

The grand jury began reviewing evidence in the case on Sept. 29.

Jonathon Moore, an attorney for the victim's family, said Wednesday he is "astonished by the decision."

In cellphone video of the Garner incident, Pantaleo is seen placing his arm around Garner's neck and then taking him to the ground after Garner refuses to be handcuffed.

Garner is heard saying repeatedly, "I can't breathe!" He died a short time later.

The New York City Medical Examiner's office ruled Garner's death a homicide, caused by the officer's apparent chokehold as well as chest and neck compressions and prone positioning "during physical restraint by police."

An independent forensic investigator hired by the Garner family also agreed with the medical examiner's findings.

The use of chokeholds is banned in the New York Police Department. In September, Commissioner Bill Bratton said in September that officers will get annual training on use of force tactics.

Garner's death was among a series of controversial fatal confrontations this year between police and young African-American males. The city has seen ongoing protests since a grand jury in St. Louis County, Mo. declined on Nov. 22 to indict Darren Wilson, a police officer accused of killing teen Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Mo.

New York police have been preparing for days for the possibility of widespread protests in reaction to the grand jury decision.

If only the cop had been wearing a camera

[Joe Molotov]

ITT, JayDubya comes out in defense of taxes.

[Am_I_Anonymous]

ITT, JayDubya comes out in defense of taxes.

 

[AdmiralViscen]

ITT, JayDubya comes out in defense of taxes.

omfg

[Steve Contra]

ITT, JayDubya comes out in defense of taxes.

[AdmiralViscen]

ITT, JayDubya comes out in defense of taxes.

Too soon

[Mr. Nobody]

 

[Your Stalker]

what a surprise

[Pickles the Firecat]

Yeah, body cameras will fix the problem.

[CatsCatsCats]

Yeah, body cameras will fix the problem.

[Rufus]

you'll all still all

I don't particularly like you, but this I can appreciate.

[Great Rumbler]

I don't like the decision in either grand jury case, but at least I can understand the decision in the Michael Brown case. But with Eric Garner, we have video evidence that clearly shows a police officer strangling a man to death with an illegal maneuver that was banned years ago because this specific outcome was far too commonplace. I just don't get it.

[Himu]

Hopefully NYC riots tonight because of it. Tear the house down.

[Phoenix Dark]

Seems like there's far less blind support for this bullshit than the Brown case. The video is so blatant...

This really isn't just about black people - he could have been a fat white dude, gotten killed the exact same way, and there would be no grand jury indictment. It's more about the justice system that protects cops. A lot of prosecutors aren't looking to put "threw a police officer in jail" on their resume, unless it's some type of landmark case.

[Rufus]

Yeah, body cameras will fix the problem.

They will expose it at least. Provided the cameras they would wear can't conveniently run out of juice or otherwise "malfunction" at crucial moments.

[doctavius bonbon]

melanin possession is a crime punishable by death now. 

[Eric P]

http://gothamist.com/2014/12/03/photos_de_blasio_bratton_introduce.php#photo-1

unfortunately the camera's record feature has to be turned on

[doctavius bonbon]

beyond worthless.

[AdmiralViscen]

On second thought, that's misleading mathematically, because hating something a lot could be plotted an inverse quantity of like, and I just don't give a shit about how much melanin one has.

The cops didn't need to strangle this guy.  His "crime" was trivial and he posed no threat. 

This situation is worthy of outrage.

 Unfortunately, since certain folks love to "cry wolf" so damn much, it probably won't get the attention it deserves.

The true crime amirite

[brob]

Yeah, body cameras will fix the problem.

They will expose it at least. Provided the cameras they would wear can't conveniently run out of juice or otherwise "malfunction" at crucial moments.

some tweets from @kateconger:

Cameras always have a frame, a viewpoint. At Urban Shield this year, I talked to the guys at Vievu, a police body camera manufacturer.

They showed me footage of a police shooting. From the moment the cop draws his gun, it blocks the camera lens. He keeps the gun raised.

When he lowers the gun, the man in the video is dead. They say he had a knife. The video doesn't conclusively show that.

This is the video the *manufacturer* uses to demonstrate how well its product works. And the gun blocks the camera the whole time.

Oh! Access is also an issue. The police footage I've watched came thru extensive records requests or from lawyers.

It takes months to get that video. If it was police footage of Eric Garner's death, we wouldn't see it til after trial, if ever.


Even presuming a camera system was developed that recorded incidents as conclusively as the Garner video, you can't fix a system by adding features to it. Only thing putting cameras on police will do is increase police budgets and raise stocks for camera manufactures.

[Rufus]

[Satch]

  oh well i guess

on to the next

[Great Rumbler]

Even presuming a camera system was developed that recorded incidents as conclusively as the Garner video, you can't fix a system by adding features to it. Only thing putting cameras on police will do is increase police budgets and raise stocks for camera manufactures.

It's not some magic elixir that instantly fixes all problems, no, but some early tests are showing positive results:

Nearly all of these tests have yet to be completed, but Ariel recently co-authored a study on the practice in Rialto, California, where he found that police officers who weren't wearing cameras were twice as likely to use force as those who were. During the 12-month experiment, the police department also saw a reduction in citizens' complaints compared with previous years.

The main thing is to combine the usage of body cameras with other changes and initiatives.

[SpeedStats]

Obnoxious, esp. since the medical examiner even ruled the death a homicide.  I'd love to know what was presented because the video released speaks for itself.

Hopefully NYC riots tonight because of it. Tear the house down.

Seems like a lot of people so far. http://new.livestream.com/timcast/events/3633872

[Positive Touch]

[brob]

It's not some magic elixir that instantly fixes all problems, no, but some early tests are showing positive results:

Nearly all of these tests have yet to be completed, but Ariel recently co-authored a study on the practice in Rialto, California, where he found that police officers who weren't wearing cameras were twice as likely to use force as those who were. During the 12-month experiment, the police department also saw a reduction in citizens' complaints compared with previous years.

The main thing is to combine the usage of body cameras with other changes and initiatives.

I found that piece rather unconvincing. It is possible that cameras could be a useful tool in demilitarizing police and increasing accountability, but on it's own it's debatable if it could have any legitimate impact and it is certain that it would be a massive drain on budgets. Focusing on body cameras on police as some sort of fulcrum for demilitarization of police (which is what the conversation around cameras will do, if only to justify the cost of it) seems wasteful.

[Brehvolution]

The bigger picture in all these cases is the absolution of financial culpability for the police departments.

No indictment, no foul.

[Rman]

The case was rigged from the start.  It wasn't presented from charges that would be very clear such as excessive force or involuntary manslaughter, but murder.

[SpeedStats]

[Himu]

Saw that tonight.

[Mr. Gundam]

I have no words. Shocked. I mean sadly not fucking shocked, but still shocked.

I feel for my African American students. The amount of shit some of them deal with is just fucking terrible.

[chronovore]

Yeah, I can't say it any better than Jon Stewart. What an astonishing amount of horseshit. I found myself in your tears during that segment.

[milchs evil twin]

Yeah, body cameras will fix the problem.

I think it will make a difference. With footage like this, the JayDubya approach goes out the window.

[I'm a Puppy!]

NPR had a piece that might've been prophetic this morning where they were talking about how the bar for getting an indictment on a cop for excessive force is very, very high. But if the bar is so high you can kill an unarmed man, with an illegal stranglehold on video and still get off, it makes you wonder why even have a bar at that point.

[I'm a Puppy!]

On second thought, that's misleading mathematically, because hating something a lot could be plotted an inverse quantity of like, and I just don't give a shit about how much melanin one has.

The cops didn't need to strangle this guy.  His "crime" was trivial and he posed no threat. 

This situation is worthy of outrage.

 Unfortunately, since certain folks love to "cry wolf" so damn much, it probably won't get the attention it deserves.

Wow, this situation is so bad even JayDubya is like "Wait, hold on guys, you might've taken it too far."
All hope is lost.

[The Legend of Sunblade]

https://twitter.com/MarkDuplass/status/540333472670175232

Transcription of Garner's last words

[Himu]

Tell them, sister.

TELL THEM.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152565724829091&pnref=story

[Himu]

RIDE OR DIE

@AZEALIABANKS
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Y'all know I'm gonna be ranting about race issues for the next few days again right??

@AZEALIABANKS
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#ERICGARNER

@AZEALIABANKS
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OKAY, what do i do to help this, to stop this???

@AZEALIABANKS
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How do i get involved??... Im sick and tired of being sick and tired.

@AZEALIABANKS
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I have to say: That it is very VERY odd, that the verdicts of these two cases would be found so closely together

@AZEALIABANKS
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It's like some extra-propaganda-sensationaliztaion-keep the black people scared and confused- media BULLSHIT.

@AZEALIABANKS
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The media is trying to scare black people into believing that our lives are worthless.

@AZEALIABANKS
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I need to sit down with the NAACP and talk about how we're going to fix this shit we call "Black America" cause it's a fucking mess.

 @AZEALIABANKS
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OURSTORY is deeper than the boat ride over and slavery and civil rights....... We have soooooooooo much that has been forgotten.

@AZEALIABANKS
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This is why i am so obsessed with Spanish-Carribean Culture and Religions because it's a LINK. The black people in the carribean

@AZEALIABANKS
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Have held on to SOOOOOO much of that information and i believe it is IMPERATIVE, that black-americans explore those religions

@AZEALIABANKS
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The Media reminds me EVERYDAY that i am black, and the media reminds everyday that things happen BECAUSE i am black.

@AZEALIABANKS
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So i feel like i may have a tendency to be a bit more intense and aggressive (IN GENERAL) because of this looming fear that i may not

@AZEALIABANKS
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Be taken seriously, or thought to be an idiot, or just thought to to be any number of things besides just a woman who happens to be black

@AZEALIABANKS
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Like, why are there so many fucking obstacles in the way of my life? What could i have ever done to deserve this?

@AZEALIABANKS
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Why does this country want us to hate ourselves so much?

@AZEALIABANKS
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The reason the religions have been able to survive in those countries is because: The spanish and Portuguese were catholic....

@AZEALIABANKS
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and The American slave owners were pilgrims... the pilgrims were having NONE of it, while the spanish and portuguese

@AZEALIABANKS
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Said that they owned the flesh of the slaves, but their souls belonged to God, and they span/port believed they had NO RIGHT to interfere.




I'm buying her album.  Her frustration perfectly encapsulates my mood the past two weeks.

[Himu]

I will listen to it on spotify first

[Am_I_Anonymous]

What I don't get is that this is arguably a much bigger example of police aggression then Ferguson but it's getting 1/3 of the attention. America makes no sense sometimes.

[Am_I_Anonymous]

less civil unrest

I get it but let's look at this objectively:

In Ferguson the deceased may or may not have assaulted the officer. I mean it's unable to be proven.

In NYC the guy was clearly choked to death for selling fucking cigarettes....It's all right there on camera.

[Positive Touch]

Ferguson also gets lots of attention because stl police think the proper way to handle a protest is with tear gas, rubber bullets, and threats.

[Phoenix Dark]

less civil unrest

Moreso the clear video evidence of blatantly excessive force, and little ability to demonize the victim. Brown allegedly robbed a store and punched an officer - that justifies his death in the mind of a lot of (white) people. Whereas Garner is on video complying after being taken down and ultimately choked to death.

[Am_I_Anonymous]

less civil unrest

Moreso the clear video evidence of blatantly excessive force, and little ability to demonize the victim. Brown allegedly robbed a store and punched an officer - that justifies his death in the mind of a lot of (white) people. Whereas Garner is on video complying after being taken down and ultimately choked to death.

That's exactly my point. I'm more pissed at Garner's MURDER then I am Ferguson and that's simply because I can see it happen. Total abuse of power and that is unquestioned. And the result will make NYC cops more likely to choke the fuck out of people now.

[Am_I_Anonymous]

http://nypost.com/2014/11/23/new-hs-class-teaches-kids-how-to-deal-with-cops/

[AdmiralViscen]

There's a thread for that, but I think you left out a couple of "allegedly"

[Joe Molotov]

Was watching CBS This Morning and they played the Jon Stewart clip.

[Himu]

Can you guys stop replying to JD in topics like this? Only reply to him on nerd threads where he's cool again.

[Himu]

Ok. Sorry.

[Phoenix Dark]

http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/the-american-justice-system-is-not-broken-1666445407

[T-Short]

http://vieuxbleu.tumblr.com/post/104340672159/hey-remember-earlier-this-year-when-that

[Joe Molotov]

You say illegal chokehold, I say a "not supposed to be used" "seatbelt".

[Cerveza mas fina]

How do you get fired as an American cop?

[Am_I_Anonymous]

http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2014/12/cleveland_paid_out_100000_to_w.html#incart_river

I'm just gonna put that here rather than starting a third thread for Tamir Rice...(12 year old shot in Cleveland by this asshole cop linked)

How do cops get fired in America

Only two cops I ever knew got fired. One for giving away too many speeding tickets to other cop's families and the other one got caught red handed at a whorehouse by other cops while diddling a 17 year old.

[Phoenix Dark]

Put that fucker in gen pop.

[seagrams hotsauce]

How do you get fired as an American cop?

Tell the truth about other cops.

[Am_I_Anonymous]

Put that fucker in gen pop.

The Cop that got caught fucking the young girl did get put in Gen Pop. They beat him so bad he is basically a vegetable now and nobody gave a fuck.

[Brehvolution]

The same people defending these cops are the same ones who bitch about how hard it is to fire a teacher.

[seagrams hotsauce]

http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2014/12/cleveland_paid_out_100000_to_w.html#incart_river

I'm just gonna put that here rather than starting a third thread for Tamir Rice...(12 year old shot in Cleveland by this asshole cop linked)

So this dude was declared unfit for duty, performed miserably during firearms training, had already choked and beat a woman, and was still allowed to ride around in a cruiser? Can't wait to see what they come up with as to why this dude doesn't get indicted

[Am_I_Anonymous]

http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2014/12/cleveland_paid_out_100000_to_w.html#incart_river

I'm just gonna put that here rather than starting a third thread for Tamir Rice...(12 year old shot in Cleveland by this asshole cop linked)

So this dude was declared unfit for duty, performed miserably during firearms training, had already choked and beat a woman, and was still allowed to ride around in a cruiser? Can't wait to see what they come up with as to why this dude doesn't get indicted

welcome to the fucking Cleveland Police Union (who is under investigation by the goddamn DEA)

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2014/12/read_the_justice_departments_r.html#incart_river