NYPD Commissioner O’Neill.
Dear Commissioner O’Neill,
As you know, five years ago, Eric Garner was killed by a member of the NYPD who used a prohibited tactic – the chokehold. As you also know, Mr. Garner repeated, several times, the phrase, “I Can’t Breathe.”
Since then, Mr. Garner’s family has fought for justice, on his behalf, and we’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with them. They’ve had to watch the video of their family member’s killing countless times, all the while waiting for someone – anyone – to deliver any measure of justice. That measure wasn’t delivered by his continued employment with the Department, it wasn’t delivered by a Grand Jury that declined to indict, and it certainly wasn’t delivered by the current U.S. Department of Justice whose leader, Attorney General Barr, overruled several members of his own team by declining to press civil rights charges.
Simply put, five years is too long to wait. This letter serves as an official request from my office to fire Officer Pantaleo, now.
Sincerely,
Jumaane D. Williams
Public Advocate for the City of New York
