New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the death of Eric Garner. Earlier Wednesday, a Staten Island grand jury announced it will not indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo, who held Garner in a chokehold while trying to arrest him for selling loose cigarettes without a license.
Gillibrand posted a statement to her website Wednesday:
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. [Kirsten Gillibrand]
Chuck Schumer echoed Gillibrand's sentiment in a tweet.
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The grand jury verdict comes less than two weeks after it was announced officer Darren Wilson will not face charges in the killing of another black man, Michael Brown.
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