Erica Garner, the oldest daughter of Eric Garner, died Saturday after going into a cardiac arrest-induced coma last week, according to a tweet from her official Twitter account.
She was 27. She leaves behind two children.
“She passed away this morning,” the tweet said. “The reports are real. We didn’t deserve her.”
Garner was hospitalized last week after going into cardiac arrest following an asthma attack, her mother told the New York Daily News. She died at Woodhull Hospital of natural causes, the Rev. Al Sharpton confirmed Saturday morning to the New York Post. He added that her family did not remove Garner from life support. On Monday, ESSENCE reported that she had suffered “major” brain damage after the Dec. 24 heart attack.
“She has passed,” Sharpton said. “Her heart was broken when she didn’t get justice. … The [heart] attack just dealt with the pieces that were left.”
An update on Wednesday revealed that lack of oxygen contributed to her brain damage. She had suffered another heart attack this summer when she gave birth to her youngest child, the result of an enlargened heart.
“Erica the world loves you. I love you. I am glad you came into our lives,” her family said in a tweet. “May you find the peace in the next life that you deserved while you were here.”
Erica the world loves you. I love you. I am glad you came into our lives. May you find the peace in the next life that you deserved while you were here. I will always love you my sister. love you
“When you report this you remember she was human: mother, daughter, sister, aunt,” a follow-up tweet said. “Her heart was bigger than the world. It really really was. She cared when most people wouldn’t have. She was good. She only pursued right, no matter what. No one gave her justice.”
When you report this you remember she was human: mother, daughter, sister, aunt. Her heart was bigger than the world. It really really was. She cared when most people wouldn’t have. She was good. She only pursued right, no matter what. No one gave her justice.
Garner’s father, Eric Garner, died in 2014 after he was put into a chokehold by a New York City Police Department officer during a questionable arrest. The incident, and his last words “I can’t breathe,” sparked major protests about police brutality in the Black community. Erica Garner soon became an outspoken voice in the Black Lives Matter movement.
Reactions to her death poured in on Twitter, with the likes of Deray Mckesson and Symone Sanders sharing their memories of Garner.
“My heart is heavy,” Sanders tweeted, “I hope Erica Garner’s family and friends find comfort in knowing she was a fighter and a passionate soul. Praying for her children.”
Our dear sister Erica Garner has just passed away.
When you were her friend, you her friend through all adversity. She was a fierce protector of her friends and family. A truth teller. As genuine and authentic of a soul you’ll ever encounter.
We’re less because of this loss.
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) December 30, 2017
A young, black woman who loved her father. And watched him die at the hands of police who he alerted that he was dying. Not even 30 yet and did not back away from the freedom struggle. She carried a burden. I pray that she’s resting now. Peace, Erica Garner. pic.twitter.com/IVo2hADVyv
