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Home • News

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country

New Yorkers weren't the only ones upset after the grand jury decided not to indict Officer Daniel Pantaleo for killing Eric Garner. Outraged and saddened citizens from every corner of the country took to the streets to protest the decision and express their sense of injustice.
By Essence · Updated October 27, 2020
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Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict

Protesters against the Staten Island grand jury’s decision not to indict Daniel Pantaleo, the NYPD officer involved in Eric Garner’s chokehold death, march together in New York.

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
Michael Rowe
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Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict

A demonstrator cries while gathering in Philadelphia to protest the Eric Garner grand jury decision during a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at City Hall December 3, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Organizers called for the demonstration after a grand jury in the Staten Island borough of New York City declined to indict the police officer who used a chokehold on Garner, resulting in his death.

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
Mark Makela/Getty Images
03
Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict

Protesters against the Staten Island grand jury’s decision not to indict Daniel Pantaleo, the NYPD officer involved in Eric Garner’s chokehold death, march together in New York.

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
Michael Rowe
04
Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict

Demonstrators hold an impromptu vigil for Eric Garner, the man who died after being subjected to a chokehold by a police officer in July, outside the beauty salon where the confrontation took place on December 3, 2014 in the Staten Island borough of New York City. A grand jury declined to indict New York City Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo in Garner’s death.

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
Andrew Burton/Getty Images
05
Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict

Protestors lay down in Grand Central Station during a protest on December 3, 2014 after a grand jury decided not to charge a white police officer in the choking death of Eric Garner, a black man, days after a similar decision sparked renewed unrest in Missouri. Eric Garner died after being placed in a chokehold by New York police Officer Daniel Pantaleo while being arrested on suspicion of selling untaxed cigarettes in Staten Island.

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
06
Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict

Demonstrators block traffic on Highway I-395 during a protest against a New York grand jury decision December 3, 2014 in Washington, DC. The grand jury decided not to indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of an unarmed black man, Eric Garner, after putting him in a chokehold.

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images
07
Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict

Protesters demonstrate following a Staten Island, New York grand jury’s decision not to indict a police officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner on December 3, 2014 in Oakland, California. The grand jury declined to indict New York City Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo in Garner’s death.

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
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Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict
In this file photo, protestors face off following a Staten Island grand jury’s decision in the Eric Garner case.
Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images
09
Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict

Demonstrators block traffic on Highway I-395 during a protest against a New York grand jury decision December 3, 2014 in Washington, DC. The grand jury decided not to indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the death of an unarmed black man, Eric Garner, after putting him in a chokehold.

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images
10
Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict

Protestors lay down at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University following the grand jury decision not to indict officer Daniel Pantaleo for the death of Eric Garner.

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
Nicole Symmonds
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Protests Erupt Across Country After Eric Garner’s Verdict

Demonstrators block traffic at 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, during a protest against a New York grand jury decision December 3, 2014 in Washington, DC. The grand jury has decided not to indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo for the death of unarmed black man Eric Garner after putting him in a chokehold.

Eric Garner Decision Sparks Protests Across the Country
Alex Wong/Getty Images